GRANTA MI:Metals Lab

MI:Metals Lab provides a template database schema for metallic test data and a range of specialist metal analysis capabilities that can be applied to create valuable information on properties such as creep, fatigue, fracture, and tensile behavior.

Database schema

A key task in implementing any materials information system is defining its database schema. This defines the types of data that are to be stored, the relationships between them, and the operations that can be performed on objects in the database. Getting the schema right can really help to create an effective system—for example, it makes it possible to automate the generation of links between related items of data as new data is added to the system.

MI:Metals Lab provides a template schema for managing the test data that is typical for aerospace, defense, and energy organizations—particularly data relating to metals. You can take advantage of the experience of the leading enterprises who are members of the Material Data Management Consortium, as this collaborative project guided the development of the schema. You can use the schema as it is or adapt it to your needs using the MI:Server configuration tools.

A high-level sketch of one of the template GRANTA MI database schemas, for managing metals test data. The diagram shows the main data types and the relationships between them. MI:Admin allows users to define and edit schemas.

Analysis tools

MI:Metals Lab also provides a set of 'calculation modules' that operate on metals test data. They work as plug-ins to the MI:Toolbox product. The user selects the relevant materials records from the database using the MI:Toolbox user interface, chooses a calculation module, is prompted to fill in required input parameters, and then launches the calculation. This typically opens an Excel spreadsheet (as illustrated below) which reports results and allows them to be refined and manipulated. Finally, MI:Toolbox can be used to import results into the database.

An example analysis—fatigue crack growth

Specific analysis modules include:

Test Modules:

• Tensile ( ASTM: E8, E111, E132, D3552, C1275, D3039; ISO EN 61)
• Compression
• Creep
• Stress Relaxation
• LCF / Cyclic Deformation
• Fatigue Crack Growth
• Fracture modules
• E399 Fracture Toughness
• E561 Fracture Toughness
• E1820 Fracture

Statistical Modules:

• Tensile
• Cyclic Deformation
• Creep
• Fatigue

GRANTA MI can also accommodate in-house analysis modules.