2 - Ashby Method

2.3 - Materials Selection for

best performance

Outline

Deriving performance indices

Performance maximizing criteria
Selection with multiple constraints

Resources:
M. F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design Butterworth Heinemann, 1999
Chapters 5 and 6
The Cambridge Material Selector (CES) software -- Granta Design, Cambridge
(www.grantadesign.com)

Materials selection and function

Design involves choosing a material, process and part shape

to perform some function.

Function dictates the choice of both materials and shape.

In many cases materials choice is not directly dependent of

shape.

Performance Indices

Each combination of
FUNCTION
Tie

Function
Objective
Constraint
Free variable

Has a
characterising
material index

OBJECTIVE
Beam
Minimum cost
Shaft

Minimum
weight

Column

Maximum energy
storage

Mechanical,
Thermal,
Electrical...

Minimum
environ. impact

CONSTRAINTS

Stiffness
specified
Strength
specified
Fatigue limit
Geometry
specified

INDEX

M=
y

Minimise
this!

Performance Indices

Performance Indices

Performance Indices

Deriving Performance Indices: Procedure

Identify the attribute to be maximized or minimized

(weight, cost, energy, stiffness, strength, safety,
environmental damage, etc.).

Develop an equation for this attribute in terms of the

functional requirements, the geometry and the material
properties (the objective function).

Identify the free (unspecified) variables.

Identify the constraints; rank them in order of

importance.

Deriving Performance Indices: Procedure

Develop equations for the constraints (no yield; no

fracture; no buckling, maximum heat capacity, cost below
target, etc.).

Substitute for the free variables from the constraints into

the objective function.

Group the variables into three groups: functional

requirements, F, geometry, G, and material properties, M,
thus, we can write:
p = f1(F) f2 (G) f3 (M)

Read off the performance index, expressed as a quantity f3 (M),

to be minimized or maximized.

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass

F
Area A

F
L
m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Minimize mass, m , of a solid cylindrical tie rod of length L, which

carries a tensile force F with safety factor Sf. The mass is given by:
m=AL
where A is the area of the cross-section and is the density.
This is called the Objective Function

The length L and force F are specified; the radius r is free.

The section must, however, be sufficient to carry the tensile load F,

requiring that:
F / A = f / Sf
where f is the failure strength.

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Eliminating A between these two equations gives:

m = ( Sf F ) ( L ) { / f }

or

m = FL
y

Note the form of this result.

The first bracket contains the functional requirement
that the specified load is safely supported.
The second bracket contains the specified geometry
(the length of the tie).
The last bracket contains the material properties.

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

We want to minimize the performance, m , while meeting the

functional and geometric requirements.
This means we want the smallest value of { / f } or the largest
value of
M = f /
Ashby defines this latter quantity as the performance index.

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Free variables

Minimise mass m

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness

Material choice
Section area A

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

STEP 1
Identify function, constraints,
objective and free variables

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Free variables

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

L
m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

(1)

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness

Material choice
Section area A

STEP 2
Define equation for objective
-- the performance equation

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

L
m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

(1)

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness
Equation for constraint on A:
F/A < y
(2)

Free variables

Material choice
Section area A

STEP 3
If the performance equation
contains a free variable other
than material, identify the
constraint that limits it

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

L
(1)

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

Equation for constraint on A:

F/A < y
(2)
Free variables

Material choice
Section area A;
eliminate in (1) using (2):

STEP 4
Use this constraint to
eliminate the free variable
in performance equation

m = FL
y

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

L
(1)

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness
Equation for constraint on A:
F/A < y
(2)

Free variables

Material choice
Section area A;
eliminate in (1) using (2):

m = FL
y

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength
STEP 5
Read off the combination
of material properties that
maximise performance

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong tie

Strong tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

(1)

Length L is specified
Must not fail under load F
Adequate fracture toughness

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
y= yield strength

Equation for constraint on A:

F/A < y
(2)
Free variables

PERFORMANCE
INDEX

Material choice
Section area A;
eliminate in (1) using (2):

m = FL
y

Chose materials with smallest

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, stiff tie

Stiff tie of length L and minimum mass
Function

Tie-rod

Area A
Objective

Constraints

Minimise mass m:
m = AL

(1)

Stiffness of the tie S:

S=

Free variables

EA
L

(2)

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
S = stiffness
E = Youngs Modulus

Material choice
Section area A; eliminate in (1) using (2):

m = SL2
E

Chose materials with smallest

Performance Indices for weight: Tie

Material indices --

Material properties --

the Engineers view of materials

the Physicists view of materials, e.g.

Cost,

Cm

Density,

Modulus,

Strength,

Endurance limit,

Thermal conductivity,

T- expansion coefficient,

Objective: minimise mass

Function

Stiffness

Strength

Tension (tie)

/E

/ y

Bending (beam)

/E1/2

/ 2/3

Bending (panel)

1/3

/1/2
y

/E

Minimise these!

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, stiff beam

F
Function

Beam (solid square section).

Objective

Minimise mass, m, where:

b
b

m = A L = b2 L
Constraint

Stiffness of the beam S:

CEI
L3

I is the second moment of area:

S=

I=
Free variables

b4
12

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
b = edge length
S = stiffness
I = second moment of area
E = Youngs Modulus

Material choice.
Edge length b. Combining the equations gives:
1/ 2

12 S L5

m=
C

1/ 2
E

Chose materials with smallest 1/ 2

E

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong beam

F
Function

Beam (solid square section).

Objective

Minimise mass, m, where:

b
b

m = AL = b L
Constraint

Must not fail under load F

y >

m = mass
A = area
L = length
= density
b = edge length
I = second moment of area
y = yield strength

M b/2 3FL
=

I b3

I is the second moment of area:

I=

b4
12

Material choice.
Edge length b. Combining the equations gives:

Free variables

m = (L)

5/3

2/3
y

(3F)2/3

Chose materials with smallest

2/3
y

Performance Indices for weight: Beam

Material indices --

Material properties -the Physicists view of materials, e.g.

Cost,

Cm

Density,

Modulus,

Strength,

Endurance limit,

Thermal conductivity,

T- expansion coefficient,

the Engineers view of materials

Objective: minimise mass
Function

Stiffness

Strength

Tension (tie)

/E

/ y

Bending (beam)

/E1/2

/ 2/3

Bending (panel)

1/3

/1/2
y

/E

Minimise these!

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, stiff panel

Function
Objective

Panel with given width w and length L

Minimise mass, m, where

m = AL = w t L
L

Constraint

Stiffness of the panel S:

m = mass
w = width
L = length
= density
t = thickness
S = stiffness
I = second moment of area
E = Youngs Modulus

CEI
L3
I is the second moment of area:
S=

I=

w t3
12

Free variables Material choice.

Panel thickness t. Combining the equations gives:
1/ 3

12 S w 2

m=

L2 1/ 3
E

Chose materials with smallest

1/ 3

Deriving Performance Indices: Light, strong panel

Function
Objective

Panel with given width w and length L

Minimise mass, m, where

m = AL = w t L
L

Constraint

Must not fail under load F

y >

M t/2
I

3FL
= 2
wt

I is the second moment of area:

w t3
I=
12

m = mass
w = width
L = length
= density
t = thickness
I = second moment of area
y = yield strength

Free variables Material choice.

Panel thickness t. Combining the equations gives:

m = (3Fw)1/2 (L)3/2 1/2
y

Chose materials with smallest

1/2
y

Performance Indices for weight: Panel

Material indices --

Material properties --

the Physicists view of materials, e.g.

the Engineers view of materials

Objective: minimise mass

Cost,

Cm

Density,

Modulus,

Strength,

Tension (tie)

/E

/ y

Endurance limit,

Bending (beam)

/E1/2

/ 2/3

Thermal conductivity,

Bending (panel)

1/3

T- expansion coefficient,

/1/2
y

Function

Stiffness

Strength

/E

Minimise these!

Optimised selection using charts

F

b
b
FUNCTION
Tie

L
OBJECTIVE

Beam
Minimum cost
Shaft

Minimum
weight

Column

Maximum energy
storage

Mechanical,
Thermal,
Electrical...

Minimum
environ. impact

CONSTRAINTS

Stiffness
specified
Strength
specified
Fatigue limit
Geometry
specified

INDEX

M=
E1/ 2

Minimise
this!

Optimised selection using charts

Index M = 1/2

1/ 2

=C

1000
Youngs modulus E, (GPa)

Ceramics

E = 2/ M2

100

Log(E ) = 2 Log() 2 Log(M)

Contours of constant
M are lines of slope 2
on an E- chart

10
1

Composites
Woods
Metals
2

Polymers
0.1
Elastomers
Foams
10
1
Density (Mg/m3)

0.01
0.1

100

Optimised selection using charts

y = Log (E)

Index M = 1/2

1000
Youngs modulus E, (GPa)

Ceramics

E = 2/ M2

100

Log(E ) = 2 Log() 2 Log(M)

y= ax+ b

Contours of constant
M are lines of slope 2
on an E- chart

10
1

Composites
Woods
Metals
2

Polymers

x = Log ()

0.1

= 0.1
Log() = -1

Foams
1
0

Elastomers
10
1

100
Density (Mg/m3)

Optimised selection using charts

y = Log (E)

Index M = 1/2

1000
Youngs modulus E, (GPa)

Ceramics

E = 2/ M2

100

Log(E ) = 2 Log() 2 Log(M)

y= ax+ b

10
1

Composites
Woods
Metals
2

Polymers

x = Log ()

0.1

b=1
-2Log(M) =1
M = 10-1/2 = 0.31

Foams
1
0

= 0.1
Log() = -1

Elastomers
10
1

100
Density (Mg/m3)

Optimised selection using charts

y = Log (E)

Index M = 1/2

1000
Youngs modulus E, (GPa)

Ceramics

E = 2/ M2

100

Log(E ) = 2 Log() 2 Log(M)

y= ax+ b
b=2
-2Log(M) =2
M = 10-1 = 0.1

10

Composites
Woods
2

Metals

1
Polymers

x = Log ()

0.1

Minimising M
= 0.1
Log() = -1

Foams
1
0

Elastomers
10
1

100
Density (Mg/m3)

Performance Indices for weight: Stiffness

Each combination of
FUNCTION

Function
Objective
Constraint
Free variable

Has a
characterising
material index

OBJECTIVE
Minimum cost
Minimum
weight
Maximum energy
storage
Minimum
environ. impact

CONSTRAINTS

Stiffness
specified

INDEX

M = [ f ( , E )]

Strength
specified
Fatigue limit

Minimise
this!

Geometry
specified

Performance Indices for weight: Stiffness

Material indices --

Material properties --

the Physicists view of materials, e.g.

Cost,

Cm

Density,

Modulus,

Strength,

Endurance limit,

Thermal conductivity,

T- expansion coefficient,

the Engineers view of materials

Objective: minimise mass
Function

Stiffness

Strength

Tension (tie)

/E

/ y

Bending (beam)

/E1/2

/ 2/3

Bending (panel)

/E1/3

/1/2
y

Minimise these!

Performance Indices for weight: Stiffness

Index M = 1/2

1/ 3

= C

1/ 2

=C

=C
E

1000
Youngs modulus E, (GPa)

Ceramics

E = 2/ M2

100

Log(E ) = 2 Log() 2 Log(M)

Contours of constant
M are lines of slope 2
on an E- chart

10
1

Composites
Woods
Metals

1
2

Polymers

0.1

0.01
0.1

Elastomers
Foams
10
1
Density (Mg/m3)

Performance Indices for weight

100

Deriving Performance Indices for Cost and Energy

To minimize Cost use the indices for minimum weight,

replacing density by C, where C is the cost per kg.

M = / f

M = C / f

To minimize Energy use the indices for minimum weight,

replacing density by q, where q is the energy content
per kg.
M = / f

M = q / f