Techniques of Materials Selection

There are at least three different techniques by which the optimum material for use in a specific component might be selected.

(a) The classical procedure using functional analysis and property specification.

(b) The imitative procedure which consists of determines what material has been utilized for a similar component.

 (c) The comparative procedure which consists of postulating that the component be made from some cheap and well understood engineering material, assessing in what ways such a material's performance would be insufficient and from this arriving progressively at the right material.

The classical procedure is the only one which is universally applicable and its use is a must even while procedure (b) or (c) is to be followed, to check the seeking of the functional analysis and property specification: However, by itself the classical procedure is costly and time consuming and requires a considerable amount of prototype testing to ensure that no critical requirement or essential property has been overlooked.

The imitative and comparative procedures, where applicable, provide invaluable shortcuts, save a vast amount of time and money and help to ensure that no essential parameter has been overlooked. The materials engineer is advised to employ all three techniques in parallel wherever practicable.