Publications

Technical papers

These papers take a detailed view of technical issues and their solution.

Meeting the Materials Data Management Needs of Engineering Enterprises

The paper takes a technical perspective of the materials data challenge, examining the practical requirements of those, such as materials engineers, who generate and supply materials data and those, such as stress analysts and design engineers, who are data 'consumers'. The paper analyzes four specific use-case examples: Materials support for engineering design Statistical process control Selecting and substituting materials Meeting regulatory requirements (e.g., REACH)

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Data Management for Composite Materials

This paper is a companion paper to Meeting the Materials Data Management Needs of Engineering Enterprises (above). Composite materials make such data management still more challenging, because composites are inherently more complex than other materials. This is because composites consist of more than one material and because their properties are more dependent on geometry, operating environment, and processing routes. In this paper, we examine the special challenges of managing composite data, and how they can be met.

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White papers

These papers take a business/strategic view of materials information issues.

The Business Case for Materials Information Management

This paper draws on Granta's experience of working with the MDMC, a consortium including enterprises such as NASA, Rolls-Royce, GE-Aviation, and Honeywell. We identify the key challenges faced by such organizations in managing and using materials information, and compute the return on investment from emerging materials information technology. This can be substantial, potentially exceeding $10 for every $1 invested.

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Materials Strategy - Can You Afford Not to Have One?

This paper discusses systematic approaches to select and substitute materials in the context of both complex functional requirements and business drivers such as cost or environmental impact. For manufacturers in areas such as industrial equipment and components, consumer goods, automotive, and aerospace the paper shows how to: enhance innovation and increase productivity in materials selection; avoid cost through materials rationalization; and hit environmental targets For materials producers, the paper discusses how the performance of materials in addressing such issues can be positioned against competitive offerings.

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Materials Information in Medical Device Design

Materials information impacts many aspects of design and manufacture in medical device companies: e.g., productivity of engineers and designers; regulatory compliance; the understanding of biological responses; quality processes; and potential for innovation. Poor practice in managing and using this information costs millions, reduces competitiveness, and exposes companies to risk. Conversely, best practice saves money, cuts time-to-market, and can help to avoid liability. This paper examines the need for such best practice, the requirements that it imposes, and how these requirements can be met. Example calculations, based on case studies of typical materials information problems, illustrate how ROI could exceed $15 for every $1 invested.

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Granta in the press

Links are provided where copy is available online or publishers permit Granta to distribute copies.

Material Database for Medical Devices
Medical Design, p. 26, December 2007

Green Software Tools to Aid Design for Sustainability Policy
European Design Engineer, p. 69-72, October 2007

Mastering the Materials Maze
British Plastics & Rubber, September 2007

Material Selection Made Easy
Plastics & Rubber Weekly, p.6, 28 September 2007

A Strategy for Materials
Appliance Design, p. 77-79, September 2007

Materials Database Helps Stretch R&D Budgets
Medical Design Technology, p. 15-16, May 2007

Materials Information Gets Down to Business
JEC Composites Magazine, no. 32, p.42-44, May 2007

Aerospace Industry Seeks Material Returns
Aerospace Engineering, p. 17-19, April 2007

Managing and Using Materials Data
Advanced Materials & Processes Journal, p. 34-36, March 2007

Engineering Materials Informatics
Cebon D., Ashby M.F.A.
MRS Bulletin, 31, p. 1004-1012, December 2006

Knowledge is Power
Aerospace Testing International, p. 88-90, December 2006

Blame it on the Management (PDF format)
Materials World, p. 26-28, December 2006

The Materials Engineering Challenge
Advanced Engineering Materials, Vol 8, p. 922-923, October 2006

Material Returns
SAE Off-Highway Engineering, p.71-73, October 2006

Software that Really Works (PDF format)
Advanced Materials & Processes Journal, May 2005