Paradoxically, the optimum material might even be different in different locations because the relative costs of materials may vary owing to factors such as trade tariffs and transportation costs. In this case, the optimum material might even change with time, as the relative cost of various materials varies. In other cases, there may be formulae that enable materials properties and their costs to be rigorously compared mathematically.Īn important concept is ‘cost per unit of function’. In some cases, the process may involve some “red lines” – eliminating materials that do not meet a minimum threshold on one or more properties some may even be illegal. The selection of a material may be partly based on a numerical comparison of properties and partly qualitative. Satellites have long been constructed from exotic composite materials.Aircraft are substituting carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and titanium alloys for aluminum.Automobiles have substituted increasing amounts of lightweight magnesium and aluminum alloys and polymers for steel.There are hardly any instances where only one material is suitable for the job, so a means is needed to compare candidate materials.Īs examples of materials assessments that are needed: In almost all design exercises, materials selection is an important element.
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