Scientific materials selection processes

Specialized material databases can provide a wealth of information. Often, however, their information is presented in a form which is not easily applied, in a systematic way, to a materials design selection process. A commercially available computer database combined with a conceptual approach which develops materials performance indices, provides for such a systematic process. The designer can thus make increasingly specific material selections which optimize competing design requirements. The final result is a short list of materials and high designer confidence with the selection. This approach is presented and then applied to select landing gear materials for carrier-based aircraft.