D. Goetze, M. N. Ben Ayed, M. Daher; RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
EHTC Bonn (Germany), November 8-9, 2011

Three primary considerations govern the optimization of product design: optimum shape, optimum manufacturing process and optimum material. Historically, the last of these has lagged behind the others in terms of its integration into virtual product development. How can designers systematically explore the trade-offs between functional performance, part shape and material cost? How can complex simulation models be derived consistently and reproducibly from material test data and deployed in the right format to those who need them? Can environmental impact and legislative risk be optimized in parallel?

Beginning with the Materials Data Management Consortium in 2002, three industry consortia of leading engineering enterprises are now formally defining the materials data lifecycle and the tools, data and best practices needed to integrate material information into engineering workflows and virtual product development. Fundamental to this approach is the understanding that materials properties are not static entries in a catalogue. They evolve and are updated as additional R&D and testing are carried out, processing variations are monitored over time, environmental regulations come into force, or prices and suppliers are changed.

Reflecting on the experiences of these industry collaborations, and using examples ranging from the complex, high strain rate test data needed for automotive engineering to some simple cost and environmental indicators, this presentation will consider the various applications and challenges of materials data management and how this complements and interoperates with CAE and other simulation technologies.

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