HYBRID COMPUTER DATABASE-SYSTEMS FOR MATERIALS ENGINEERING

Many approaches have been taken in the computer-based organization and delivery of engineering materials data and expertise, but relatively little attention has been given to the provision of information to designers working in adaptive or variant design areas in which only incremental design changes are made. The information required is characterized by the variety of its formats and sources, and by the complexity of the interrelationships between data. This paper describes a system designed to allow diverse computer-based information to be viewed, indexed and linked together. The system uses a combination of hypertext and database technology, with novel elements such as hypertext links that carry out database search, and a search feedback mechanism that gives continually updated information on the search terms that are valid for the current search state. Three materials data sets developed using the system are described. The first is a materials database combined with applications details and micrographs and with hypertext links to explanations of terms. The second is a database of test results from a large research programme, and the third a collection of good practice guidelines for fatigue design.