Design and

Materials Selection

Materials Selection
The Basics

Lecture 4

Dr. Muslim Muhsin

This Lecture sets out
the basic procedure
for selection,
establishing the link
between material and
function
Figure 1
 Figure 2

The universe of materials is divided into

families, classes, subclasses, and
members; each member is characterized
by a set of attributes: its properties
 Selection Strategies

Figure 3

Required features are constraints; they are

used to screen out unsuitable cars. The
survivors are ranked by cost of ownership
 Choosing a Material

Figure 4

Design requirements are first expressed as constraints and

objectives. The constraints are used for screening. The survivors
are ranked by the objective, expressed as a material index.
Strategy for Materials Selection

The four main steps:

Translation
Screening
Ranking
Documentation

Figure 5
Translating Design Requirements
Figure 4
 Material Indices
Constraints set property limits.
Objectives define material indices,
for which we seek extreme values.
 Minimizing Mass:
A light, strong tie

Objective Function: equation

describing the quantity to be
maximized or minimized.
 We can reduce the mass by reducing the
cross-section, but there is a constraint: A must
be sufficient to carry F*, requiring that:

Eliminating A between these two

equations gives:

Material indices are generally expressed so that a

maximum value is sought, so the material index
for a light, strong tie is:
 Minimizing Mass
A light, stiff panel

Objective Function

Constraint on Stiffness

Second Moment of Area

Material index for a light, stiff panel

Material index with a constraint of

strength rather than stiffness
 Minimizing Mass
A light, stiff beam

Objective Function

Constraint on Stiffness

Second Moment of Area

Material index for a light, stiff beam

Material index with a constraint of

strength rather than stiffness
 Performance Equation

The performance of a structural element

is determined by three things: the
functional requirements, the geometry,
and the properties of the material of
which it is made.
 Figure 7

The specification of function, objective,

and constraint leads to a materials index.
The combination in the highlighted boxes
leads to the index E1/2/ρ.
• An engineering component has: (boundary condition for Materials Selection)

1. Function: to carry load, transmit heat, contain a pressure, etc..

What does the component do?

2. Objectives: as cheap as possible, light, safe, strong, etc…

What is to be Maximized or Minimized?

3. Constraints: subject to constraints such as carry load without failure,

certain dimensions are fixed, cost is within limits etc…
 What non-negotiable conditions are to be met? (Rigid)
 What negotiable but desirable conditions? (Soft)

4. Free Variables: materials choice, cross-section area, thickness, and

length are free
Which design variables are free? (variables which can be changed)
 Figure 8

A schematic E-ρ chart showing a lower

limit for E and an upper limit for ρ.
 Ranking: Indices on Charts

Figure 9

A schematic E-ρ chart showing guide lines for the

three material indices for stiff, lightweight design.
 Figure 10

A schematic E-ρ chart showing a grid of

lines for the material index M=E1/3/ρ.
 Figure 11

A selection based on the index M=E1/3/ρ > 2(GPa)1/3 (Mg/m3)

together with the property limit E > 50 GPa. The materials
contained in the search region become the candidates for the
next stage of the selection process
 Figure 12

Computer-aided selection using the CES software. The

schematic shows the three types of selection window.
They can be used in any order and any combination.
The selection engine isolates the subset of materials
that passes all the selection stages.