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Materials and Process Selection Charts

The materials selection charts below map the property space occupied by each material class. They can be used to retrieve approximate values for materials properties, or to select materials that have prescribed property profiles.

It is not possible to give charts to plot all the possible combinations, there are too many. Those that are presented here are the most useful. Any other can be created easily using Granta Design's CES software.

The data on the charts and in the tables are approximate: they typify each class of material, but within each class there can be considerable variation. They are adequate for the broad comparisons required for conceptual design, and, often for the rough calculations of embodiment design. They are not appropriate for detailed design calculations. For these it is essential to seek accurate data from handbooks and the data sheets provided by materials suppliers. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data shown on these charts. No guarantee can, however, be given that the data are error free, or that new data may not supersede those given here.

These selection charts are in PDF format and approximately 400-500kb. The charts are provided here with permission of the copyright owner Mike Ashby. Users of this site are authorized to download, print, and make unlimited copies of these charts, and to reproduce these for teaching and learning purposes only, but not for publication, with proper reference to their ownership and source . These charts are part of the Teaching Resource Site. If you have an annual license or a perpetual license with an annual maintenance contract you can download them using your user name and password.

Download the complete 2008 Materials Charts book (PDF - 4.9 MB)

2007 version (PDF - 4.9 MB)

Four sample charts are available for free download.