, .S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

NBS

PUBLICATIONS

NAT'L INST OF STAND & TECH

A111D7 E5T7^

BS Special Publication 689

ComputerizingMaterials

Data—A Workshopfor the

NuclearPowerIndustry

fohn Rumble, Jr. and Jack H. Westbrook

1-QG

100

I1U57

No. 689

1935

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M he National Bureau of Standards' was established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1901. The

Jf Bureau's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Bureau conducts research and provides: (1) a

basis for the nation's physical measurement system, (2) scientific and technological services for industry and

government, (3) a technical basis for equity in trade, and (4) technical services to promote public safety.

The Bureau's technical work is performed by the National Measurement Laboratory, the National

Engineering Laboratory, the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Center for Materials

Science.

The National Measurement Laboratory

Provides the national system of physical and chemical measurement;

coordinates the system with measurement systems of other nations and

furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical and

chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific community, in- dustry, and commerce; provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies; conducts physical and chemical research; develops,

produces, and distributes Standard Reference Materials; and provides

calibration services. The Laboratory consists of the following centers:

• Basic Standards2 • Radiation Research

• Chemical Physics

• Analytical Chemistry

The National Engineering Laboratory

Provides technology and technical services to the public and private sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems; conducts research in engineering and applied science in support of these efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines required to carry out this research and technical service; develops engineering data and measurement

capabilities; provides engineering measurement traceability services; develops

test methods and proposes engineering standards and code changes; develops

and proposes new engineering practices; and develops and improves

mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user. The

Laboratory consists of the following centers:

Applied Mathematics

Electronics and Electrical Engineering2 Manufacturing Engineering

Building Technology

Fire Research

Chemical Engineering2

The Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology

Conducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aid Federal agencies in the selection, acquisition, application, and use of computer technology to improve effectiveness and economy in Government

operations in accordance with Public Law 89-306 (40 U.S.C. 759), relevant Executive Orders, and other directives; carries out this mission by managing

the Federal Information Processing Standards Program, developing Federal ADP standards guidelines, and managing Federal participation in ADP

voluntary standardization activities; provides scientific and technological advisory services and assistance to Federal agencies; and provides the technical foundation for computer-related policies of the Federal Government. The Institute consists of the following centers:

Programming Science and

Technology

Computer Systems

Engineering

The Center for Materials Science

Conducts research and provides measurements, data, standards, reference

materials, quantitative understanding and other technical information fundamental to the processing, structure, properties and performance of materials; addresses the scientific basis for new advanced materials technologies; plans

research around cross-country scientific themes such as nondestructive

evaluation and phase diagram development; oversees Bureau-wide technical programs in nuclear reactor radiation research and nondestructive evaluation; and broadly disseminates generic technical information resulting from

its programs. The Center consists of the following Divisions:

Inorganic Materials Fracture and Deformation

Polymers

Metallurgy Reactor Radiation

'Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address

Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

2 Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303.

3 Located at Boulder, CO, with some elements at Gaithersburg, MD.
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

LIBRARY NBS Special Publication 689

Computerizing Materials Data—A

Workshop for the Nuclear Power Industry

The Report of a Workshop held at Knoxvilte, TN

May 2-3, 1984

John Rumble, Jr. National Bureau of Standards

and

Jack H. Westbrook

General Electric Corporation

Workshop Sponsored by:

The Metal Properties Council

National Bureau of Standards American Society for Metals American Society for Testing and Materials American Society of Mechanical Engineers

January 1985

U.S. Department of Commerce

Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary National Bureau of Standards

Ernest Ambler, Director
Library of Congress U.S. Government Printing Office Catalog Card Number: 84-601161 Washington: 1985

National Bureau of Standards

Special Publication 689

Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 689,

44 pages (Jan. 1985) CODEN: XNBSAV

For sale by the Superintendent

of Documents,

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
executive

summary

The investment in materials in the Nuclear Power Industry is more than $100 billion. Though

construction of new plants has tapered off, the existing facilities are an important part of the United

States energy system. The performance of these facilities is critically dependent on the materials used

in their construction and operation. Access to accurate and reliable materials property data is a vital part in determining that performance.

The Metal Properties Council and the National Bureau of Standards gathered together in May

1984 a group of engineers and scientists responsible for the use of materials property data in various

sectors of the Nuclear Power Industry. At this workshop, all facets of the use of computers in accessing these data were addressed. The discussions concerned the content of a proposed computerized materials data system, its size and data sources, and the user interfaces and system capabilities.

The conclusions and recommendations of the workshop participants are summarized below and will supply important input to the National Materials Property Data Network being developed by The

Metal Properties Council and others as it progresses in providing this valuable service to American

industry.

Endorsement of the Concept • A materials property data network should be established consisting of independent databases on

a distributed system connected by a central or "gateway" computer. Users would access any or

all of the databases by a single phone call. • The gateway will have features such as user friendliness and support programs such as statistical analysis and graphical display of retrieved data. Comprehensive indices to the database contents would be available. Downloading of data would be permitted. • Individual databases would be developed and maintained by expert groups, especially those now

making data available in publications.

Contents and Characteristics of the System • A wide range of information is needed for users in the Nuclear Power Industry—materials,

properties, economic data, and application advice. • Materials properties needed include—mechanical, corrosion, thermal, physical, radiation effects,

and neutronics. • Ferrous and copper alloys are by far the most important materials. Other alloys, ceramics, and

polymers are next in order of interest. • Users must be able to designate materials in several different ways —by class, by application area, by chemistry, by standard designation, and by trade names. • A unique designation is important. • Property relationships should be described and a catalog of test methods included. • The system must offer a variety of capabilities including number look-up, file inversion (what

materials have a given set of properties), as well as other features mentioned above.

General Observations • Quality indicators should be given for the data included. At first, these may be general and

qualitative. • Increased activities on the validation of engineering data are needed. Technical societies and the National Bureau of Standards should take the lead.

iii
• Validation does not absolve users of the need for good engineering judgment. The final responsibility for data resides with the user. • Commonly used handbooks must be made machine-readable and be included in the network. • There is a strong demand for data on service experience of materials. • In the nuclear industry, data are needed for maintenance, repair, retrofit, and service life extension as well as for design of new plants and equipment. • The most important gaps in materials property data are—friction, corrosion, wear, and

weldments.

Action Plans • The network must be built through cooperation of industry, technical societies, and government.

The National Materials Property Data Network, as established by the Metal Properties Council,

should continue to provide the necessary leadership and focus. • Since their users will be the largest group to benefit, industry must provide the bulk of support. • A demonstration system must be built as soon as possible to exercise the concept and to show the

potential of the network. • Technical advisory committees are needed to address standardization issues, to evaluate and

review data, and to encourage database building. • Users must be involved in every stage—from planning to design to building.

iv
acknowledgments

The success of this workshop is due to many people. Financial support came from the Office of

Standard Reference Data of the National Bureau of Standards. The Metal Properties Council, Inc., of New York was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the topic of this meeting. Special thanks

are given to Adolph Schaefer and Martin Prager, Director and Deputy Director, respectively, of the

MPC and to James Graham of John Deere, Inc., who is head of the MPC Task Group on Computerized Materials Data.

Several individuals planned and organized this workshop, including

Joe Gilman

Electric Power Research Institute

Martin Prager

The Metal Properties Council, Inc.

John Rumble, Jr. National Bureau of Standards

Jack Westbrook

General Electric Company

This workshop report was prepared by Jeanne Bride whose careful manuscript preparation,

editing, and proofreading made the work go smoothly.

contents

executive summary iii

Chapter 1 —Introduction and Purpose of Meeting 1

Workshop talks

Chapter 2—Computerized Access to Materials Data—A Progress Report

J. Rumble, Jr., NBS 3

Chapter 3—Materials Data in the Nuclear Industry—Present and Future

J. Rowe, McDermott, Inc. 11

Chapter 4—Computerized Materials Data at EPRI—J. Gilman , EPRI 12

Chapter 5—The National Materials Property Data Network, Inc.

A. Schaefer, MPC 15

Workshop conclusions 17

Chapter 6—Specification of the Data System 19

Chapter 7—Scope Definition 22

Chapter 8—User Interface and System Capabilities 25

Chapter 9—Making the System Happen 27

Appendix A—List of Attendees 28

Appendix B—Further Readings 29

Appendix C—Glossary 33

Appendix D—Acronyms 37

vii
•figures

Figure 1. Annual cost of fracture and annual potential savings of fracture costs *

Figure 2. Major sector contributions to the annual costs of fracture 4

Figure 3. Materials of construction for a typical boiling water nuclear reactor 5

Figure 4. Computerized materials data network (schematic) 7

Figure 5. MPC National Materials Property Data Network 8

Figure 6. Stages in database development 12

tables

Table 1. NBS/Battelle study of economic effects of metallic corrosion in the United States 3

Table 2. Representative average outage of nuclear power plants 6

Table 3. Advantages of computerized materials data system 7

Table 4. Concordant observations from MPC study and materials data workshop 8

Table 5. EPRI databases of materials properties of interest to nuclear power industry 13

Table 6. Summary of properties in some EPRI databases 13

Table 7. The National Materials Property Data Network, Inc. —Members of Board of

Directors 15

Table 8. Materials data handbooks commonly used in the nuclear power industry 22

viii
Chapter 1 introduction and

purpose of meeting

Computer access to materials data will become a reality in the coming years. The wide availability

of computing facilities, combined with an increasing number of machine-readable databases, have

brought this about. For the engineer user to realize the maximum benefits from this trend, three key

events must happen. First, computer use must be easy, attractive, and provide more capability than

presently available at the engineer's desk. Second, the collective materials/properties scope of the

interconnected databases must be reasonably broad and the coverage within that scope acceptably

complete. Third, engineers must be involved in defining and designing the system.

In May 1984, a workshop "Computerizing Materials Data—A Workshop for the Nuclear Power

Industry" was held in Knoxville, Tennessee. The gathering was designed to provide guidance to a cooperative effort whose goal was to provide such computer access. The meeting was sponsored by

the Metal Properties Council, the National Bureau of Standards, and several technical societies. The

results of the workshop, given in this report, will help lay the groundwork for activities of the National Materials Property Data Network, Inc. (NMPDN), an independent corporation planned by

the MPC.

Planning for the Network has been in progress for several years. The result is a cooperative effort to establish an on-line service to provide access to validated data on the properties of engineering

materials. After exploring alternative approaches and technologies, a network of independent

databases is now believed to be a feasible objective. In spring of 1984, The Metal Properites Council

(MPC) formed NMPDN as a separate incorporated entity which will plan and build the Network.

The overall concept of the Network is quite simple. A central computer would be linked via

telecommunications to databases on machines in different locations. The individual databases would

be compiled and maintained to expert standards. To access the system, an engineer would make one phone call to the central or "gateway" computer. Software on this computer would let the engineer

first identify the type of data wanted and would then present him with a list of databases containing

these data. The user would select the databases to be examined and be automatically connected to them.

The gateway computer would have software, including a translator, so the user would need to know only one query language. This type of centralized access means the engineer needs to learn only one set of commands, to set up one contract, and to make only one phone call. The system will have

capabilities important for the intelligent use of the data, including graphics, statistical packages, and

other post-processing features. Downloading privileges would likely also be available. For such a system to be successful, the potential user community must be involved in the designing and planning

from the beginning.

One part of the planning process involves the holding of a series of workshops. The workshop

concept developed by NBS brings together engineers involved in the design and manufacture of

equipment and components used in a particular industrial segment, here the Nuclear Power Industry,

to articulate their needs and the way they would use this system if it were available. The workshop

was structured for maximum involvement of the participant. It featured several discussion sessions

during which small groups focused on a number of questions. These related to what data must be

included, how they should be specified, and what capabilities are needed.

The topics included the materials of greatest interest, kinds of properties needed for design,

modes of data presentation in accord with traditional practices, types of statistics consistent with

1
codes and standards, nomenclature, compositional ranges, and test techniques. Each of these were

addressed for a variety of applications.

The results of the workshop are very important both to the NMPDN and to the engineering

community at large. First and foremost, they will be used to develop priorities in the kinds of

databases to be included and in the types of capabilities offered by the Network. As can be seen from

the discussions that follow, detailed recommendations were made which will allow the Network

designers to be responsive to the needs of engineers in the Nuclear Power Industry.

In a broader sense, the workshop served to alert this segment of the engineering community to the on-going activity currently associated with computer access to materials data. The meeting was

the second of a series of such gatherings held by MPC and NBS for individual industries. The first was a workshop for the Ground Vehicle Industry, held in April 1984 in Columbus, Ohio, under the sponsorship of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Others are being planned.

The present workshop was divided into two parts—(1) presentations on materials data pertinent

to the Nuclear Power Industry and progress-to-date in computerizing these data and (2) discussion

groups which addressed a series of topics designed to elicit concrete answers from this potential user community. An outline of this report follows. Chapters 2-5 present summaries of the presentations. Chapter 2 discusses progress made in the

past few years towards providing computer access to materials property data. Chapter 3 identifies changes in the use of materials data in the Nuclear Power Industry. Chapter 4 describes the EPRI

experience in building computerized materials databases. In Chapter 5, the National Materials Property Data Network is discussed.

The next four chapters present summaries of the workshop discussions and its conclusions.

Chapter 6 discusses the content of the proposed system, Chapter 7 its size and the data sources, and

Chapter 8 the user interfaces and system capabilities. In Chapter 9, ways of making further progress

are outlined.

The report concludes with four appendices. These give a list of attendees, suggestions for further

readings, a glossary, and a list of acronyms.

The report itself is not a verbatim account but rather an accurate (hopefully) picture of what took

place during those two days. It is difficult to convey on paper the enthusiasm that these materials data

users expressed as they got involved. The questions quickly turned from "What?" to "When?". In some sense, we hope the reader will undergo a similar change and will become enthusiastically

involved in bringing this tool of the furture—computerized materials data—into being for the benefit

of the United States.

2
Chapter 2

computerized access to materials data

a progress report

John Rumble, Jr. National Bureau of Standards

The need

A number of American industrial sectors are undergoing major changes because of increased competition, new engineering developments, and different public tastes. The Nuclear Power Industry is perhaps one that is experiencing the greatest changes, brought about by a reduced short-term demand

for electricity, pressure from regulatory groups, and the recent economic downturn. Yet the nuclear

industry is still an important force in the American economy in general and a major part of the U.S. energy system.

As in other industries, computers are playing a leading role in these changes, one of which is the maturing of computerized engineering. The ability of computers to design nuclear power systems and

then analyze their performance has been a positive factor in the industry.

The tangible products of any of our industries are either made from or result from the use of

materials, and the selection of these materials is a key component in determining how viable the product is. The output of the Nuclear Power Industry is energy, and its viability certainly depends on the materials used in the plants that produce it. Since one major impact of computers is the increased accessibility to information, the technical

community has begun addressing how to exploit this capability in meeting the need for computerized

materials data. The goal is quite simple: To provide engineers and scientists with more effective access to materials property data by using computers.

The economic activity related to the use of materials and their performance within the United

States alone is enormous. During the last few years, the National Bureau of Standards and the Battelle Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio, have jointly studied the costs of fracture [1] and corrosion [2] in the United States. Using a well-tested input/output economic model, the annual cost of fracture is estimated at more than $120 billion (1982 dollars) and the annual cost of corrosion is even higher, or $143 billion. As seen in table 1 and figures 1 and 2, a significant fraction of these costs, about $21 billion for corrosion and $28 billion for fracture, could be recovered simpiy by using "Best Current Practices."

Improved dissemination of existing data would help recover some of these potential savings.

Table 1. NBS/Battelle study of economic effects of metallic corrosion in the United States (1982 Dollars)

• Annual costs = $143B (4.2% of GNP) • $2 IB (15%) Avoidable by use of best current practices

- Improve data dissemination system • S122B (85%) Unavoidable with best current practices

- Improve data base through research

- Upgrade corrosion control practices through evaluation and improved application of available data

3
Batfelle Study on Economic Effects of Fracture

Annual Costs of Fracture (1982 Dollars in Billions)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Annual Potential Savings of Fracture Costs

(1982 Dollars in Billions)

Presently reducible through best fracture

1 control practice

Future reducible through research

1 and development

p Currently not reducible. Must await

H research breakthroughs

Figure 1. Annual cost of fracture and annual potential savings of fracture costs

Battelle Study on Economic Effects of Fracture

Major Sector Contributions to the Annual

Costs of Fracture (1982 Dollars in Billions)

Economic

Sectors 0123456789 10 1 1 12

Motor Vehicles & Parts

Aircraft & Parts W//////////////////////////M\ Construction, Residences WM/WMMmm

Construction, Non-residential Buildings W/////////////////A Food & Kindred Products W///////////////A Fabricated Structural Products W//////////M Non-ferrous Products V//////////M Petroleum Refining v/////////m Structural Metal W7MM

Tires & Inner Tubes W///////M

Solid Shading Indicates Technology Transfer Savings

Figure 2. Major sector contributions to the annual costs of fracture

4
Within the Nuclear Power Industry itself, the performance of materials is extremely important.

These are critical in three areas: structures, fuel and heat transfer systems as shown schematically in figure 3. Lapides and Zebroski [3] have calculated that almost half of the average outage of a nuclear

power plant is from corrosion-related problems (table 2). These corrosion problems result in reducing

the availability of a given plant by about 27 percent.

Steam outlet nozzle: low

alloy steel, ASME SA508,

CI. 2

Core spray inlet nozzle: low

alloy steel, ASME SA508,

CI. 2

Low-pressure, coolant

injection inlet nozzle: low

alloy steel, ASME SA508,

CI. 2

Core spray sparger: type 304

stainless steel

Jet pump assembly: type 304

stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel X-750, Haynes

Stellite No. 6

Fuel assemblies: Zircaloy

(cladding), U02 (pellets)

Jet pump/ recirculation

water inlet nozzle: low alloy

steel, ASME SA508, CI. 2

Reactor vessel: low alloy

steel, ASME SA533, Gr. B, CI. 1 (clad with type 308L

stainless steel)

Control rod drives: type 304, 304L, and 316stainless steel, Armco 1 7-4PH, Nitronic 50, Haynes Stellite No. 6, Haynes 25, Stellite Star J, Colmonoy No. 6, Inconel

600, Inconel X-750

Flange: low alloy ASME SA508, CI. 2

steel,

Steam dryer assembly: type 304 stainless steel

Steam separator assembly:

type 304 stainless steel

Feedwater inlet nozzle: low

alloy steel, ASME SA508,

CI. 2

Feedwater sparger: type 304 and 316L stainless steel, Inconel 600

Core spray line: type 304

stainless steel

Top guide: type 304L stainless steel

Core shroud: type 304 stainless steel

Control blade: type 304

stainless steel; B4C absorber, Haynes Stellite No. 3

Core plate: type 304L stainless steel

Recirculation water outlet nozzle: low alloy steel, ASME SA508, CI. 2

Control rod drive hydraulic

lines: type 304 stainless steel

Source: General Electric Co. The cutaway is of a GE BWR, 6 reactor. The listing of trade names does not imply a recommendation.

Figure 3. Materials of construction for a typical boiling water nuclear reactor

5
Table 2. Representative average outage of nuclear power plants [3]

Duration %Total Corrosion

(Hrs) Portion, %

Forced outage (malfunction) 993 35.8 16.9 Scheduled (includes refueling) 1668 60.2 29.3 Regulatory 112 4.0 2.0 2773 100.0 48.2

Availability factor 1 — ^rz?,—rr—^ = "72.5% 8/60 + 1 350

By the end of 1982, over 63,000 megawatts (MW) of electric power were produced by nuclear

plants, or about 10 percent of the U.S. total [4]. Since the late 1970's, though construction of new

plants has come to a virtual halt, much effort has gone into materials problems related either to life extensions of existing plants or to quality assurance in completed but not-yet-operating facilities. Often, the problems jeopardizing the investment are quite mundane—for example, bolting. It is not always clear whether these problems are perceived or real and, at $500,000 per day for outage

of a 1000 MW plant, the question becomes expensive. When real problems are found, they are often

traceable to improper selection or performance of materials. By these examples, it is evident that materials play an important role in the economic life of the

Nuclear Power Industry and that access to better data will in turn lead to better engineering which

in turn makes better business.

The Concept

To meet this need for better access to data, the engineering community has begun turning to the

computer for help. Over the past few years, a number of meetings and studies [5] have developed a concept that will enable the engineer to use computers to access materials property data. The concept

is: To provide to the technical user, via one phone call, a "gateway" computer with • Access to many databases regardless of location • Thesaurus for materials and properties designations • User-friendly interface • Capabilities (statistics, graphics, etc.) for massaging of engineering data • One set of business arrangements with the database builders

In figure 4, a schematic diagram of the database system is given. From the user point of view,

the most important feature is that many different databases can be accessed by use of a common set of commands. Upon entering the system, the user would pose a query and be shown a set of databases

containing data of possible interest. Upon selection of one or more databases, the host computer

would automatically retrieve the desired data for further use such as statistical analysis or graphical

display. The data could also be downloaded to a computer at the user's site for other processing as desired. For such a system to be attractive, the number and coverage of the included databases would

have to be sufficiently high to fulfill most of the user's requests, i.e., a nearly complete filling of the

matrix in the upper part of figure 4. Though the number of databases now available is limited, this will change in time. The obvious advantage will then be that a large number of data sources—handbooks,

6
COMPUTER ACCESS

p

R

O

P

E

R

T

\E

S

MATER /tLS

1

1

^ \v

1

1

1

1

USERS

NETWORKED INFORMATION SYSTEM

Si**?

DATA BASES

Figure 4. Computerized materials data network (schematic)

data compilations, codes and standards, and vendor information—will be available to the user at his desk. Table 3 lists some other advantages for users:

Table 3. Advantages of computerized materials data system

Compact and comprehensive

Fast access Increased homogeneity and quality of data

Infinitely flexible formatting

Facile materials comparison

Easy updating

Material/property file inversion

Integration with CAD/CAM,

Other enhanced engineering capabilities Ensured commonality of database for user population

Database builders and publishers of data also will realize many benefits from the proposed

system. Royalties for database use will be collected in a manner similar to that in the existing on-line

bibliographic systems. Since the database system will be reaching a larger audience, individual

databases should have a larger user community.

An important point to note is that databases will retain identities in a manner exactly analogous

to the existing data handbooks, reports, and other publications. As activities by the technical societies and the National Bureau of Standards come to fruition, the number of evaluated databases will grow.

Since databases will be created by the same groups that now publish data in hard-copy form, an

implicit quality indicator will be carried with the identity of the database. An increase in accessibility of validated materials property data will be of special interest to materials experts. Since they are a group of data users who best understand the nuances and ramifications of materials data, they will still be the group of users who can best use more data.

7
The new data system will primarily emphasize databases of materials performance properties

such as the mechanical and corrosion properties of alloys, ceramics, composites, and polymers. In

addition, data on the chemical and physical properties of these materials will be included.

The alternative to a data system such as described above is chaos. Since engineers now use hundreds of data sources, computerized access to each of these individually would mean using

hundreds of computers, an impossible situation. Engineers have traditionally met their data needs by

collective activities as embodied in the technical and professional societies, working groups, etc. The

proposed database system would carry this style into the age of computers.

The Metal Properties Council Effort

Given the need for better access to the properties of materials and a viable concept for meeting that need, the Metal Properties Council (MPC) has undertaken to establish The National Materials

Property Data Network, Inc. (NMPDN) to provide on-line access to existing and future numerical

data on the engineering properties of materials. Working with many groups in industry and government and with other technical societies, the MPC has become a focal point for the various activities. Two major studies on this subject of computerized access to materials data are the report [5a] of a workshop held in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, in the fall of 1982 and a feasibility study [5b] done

for MPC itself. Several important conclusions were reached by these studies, which are summarized

in table 4.

Table 4. Concordant observations from MPC study and materials data workshop

• Computer access is badly needed but does not exist in any comprehensive way • Both direct materials information needs and CAD/CAM are driving this development • An effective and economic system requires cooperative effort • No significant computer barriers exist • All stakeholder groups should participate • A time window now exists to realize an effective system

The last of these is probably the most significant of all. At the present time, the interest in and

availability of computers is rising continuously, and our ability to use the computer to deliver data

has been well established. Yet the number of computer databases available is still small. The opportunity exists now to build a data system as described previously in a controlled and cooperative manner. In a few years, this chance will have disappeared if a few large databases have been allowed

to emerge unilaterally without broad professional participation and endorsement.

The MPC has identified the needed activities as given in figure 5 and, working with the National

Bureau of Standards and other groups such as SAE, ASME, ASTM, AIAA, EPRI, and AWS, it has

started work in each of these areas. MPC

National Materials Data System

Data Evaluation

Software

Development Resources

Data Standards

Definition of

User Needs

Building Expert

Databases

Activities needed to build and support the

MPC system

Figure 5. MFC National Materials Property Data Network

8
Data Evaluation

One ultimate aim of this effort is to improve the quality of mechanical property and corrosion data. Such matters have traditionally been a concern of MPC and it has had many projects on validating

data, especially for the Nuclear Power Industry and the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. In addition, the Office of Standard Reference Data at NBS has started a number of pilot projects in the areas of mechanical properties and corrosion and is working with selected technical societies to promote other work.

Standards

The use of computers for engineering data will bring about the need for improved standards

related to the generation of test data and reporting these results. Since computers allow the inter- mingling of data to be done easily, more care must be taken to ensure better control of test results. Also, since the computer display terminal allows abstraction of only part of a data record in any one

screen, in contrast to the printed page where footnotes and caveats must be visibly confronted, the engineering community must reassess the best mechanism for making the user aware of ancillary

information associated with individual data points. Standards societies and code groups must face up

to this problem and come up with answers. Another standardization issue that must be addressed concerns the protocols for communication

between databases and the database management system (DBMS) for the whole network. In the

gateway concept, the host DBMS will be accessing DBMS's on outside computers. Present ISO

communication protocols need to be extended so that extensive software modifications are not needed with each new database added to the network.

Building Needed Databases

The number of comprehensive databases of materials properties is now quite small in comparison to the number of printed data sources. In order for a data system to be most useful, the user must have

a high percentage of his/her questions answered. A concerted effort must be made to encourage

groups who now publish hard-copy data to build machine-readable databases of the same sort of

information. For materials property data, these include the technical societies, trade associations,

private publishers, and government research agencies. Because the number of existing databases is so

small, an opportunity exists to develop standard formats which should greatly ease the database

building process.

Definition of User Needs

An important aspect of the MPC project is to involve the potential user community as much as possible in all parts of the effort, especially with respect to defining what they want from such a system. This workshop is one of a series being held for each of several industries. More will be said about these workshops later. The MPC has established a task group which coordinates these activities and maintains liaisons with other groups. This task group has set up five committees to oversee and plan individual efforts. These are: • Materials Designation and Nomenclature • Testing and Reporting • Data Evaluation and Analysis • User Needs • Computers and Data Suppliers

Resources and Software Development

In early 1984, the Metal Properties Council incorporated a nonprofit organization, the NMPDN,

Inc., to lead the business activities associated with the building of the proposed data system. With a board of governors drawn from companies interested in participating in this effort, the new cor- poration will shortly be selecting an executive director who will be charged with developing the

9
technical and business plans necessary to do the work. Once these are in place, fund raising will begin,

and the initial work effort will concentrate on identifying the software and hardware resources

necessary. This is discussed further in chapter 5.

This Workshop

As part of these overall activities, a number of user workshops have been scheduled for engineers in individual industries with this, the second, aimed at the Nuclear Power Industry. The goals of the

workshop are straightforward: • To develop a collective wish list for a computerized materials data system for users involved

in materials selection and component design in the Nuclear Power Industry

® To involve this user community in these overall activities • To make this user community aware of the benefits of a computerized materials data system

All of the workshops have been designed to maximize participation of the attendees by breaking

up into discussion groups to consider in detail a series of questions related to the data systems: • Specification of the Database

What materials/property data should be in it? © Scope Definition

How many data are needed?

What data sources must be included? • User Interfaces and System Capabilities

How should the system perform? • Making the System Happen

How can we speed things up?

The answers to these questions will form valuable input for the MPC effort. Creating a large data

system must begin with a clear understanding of the needs and desires of the user community.

Conclusion

As the effort to build a comprehensive computerized materials data system grows, it becomes more

obvious that the benefits will be far-reaching. During this workshop, the enthusiasm of the participants grew steadily until the questions became not "What," but "When?".

The engineering community within the United States has banded together many times to ad- vance progress in engineering capability. The computerized materials data system requires such an

effort, and the rewards will be substantial.

References

[1] U.S. Department of Commerce, The Economic Effects ofFracture in the United States, National

Bureau of Standards Special Publication 647-1 and -2 (Washington, DC, 1983).

[2] U.S. Department of Commerce, The Economic Effects ofMetallic Corrosion in the United States, National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 511-1 and -2 (Washington, DC, 1978).

[3] M. E. Lapides and E. Zebroski, "Use of Nuclear Plant Operating Experience to Guide

Productivity Improvement Programs," EPRI Special Reprint SR-26-R (Palo Alto, CA,

1975).

[4] Inventory of Power Plants in the United States, 1982 Annual (U.S. Department of Energy,

Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC, 1983) DOE/EIA-0095 (82).

[5] a) Computerized Materials Data Systems, J. H. Westbrook and J. R. Rumble, Jr., Editors

(1983). Available from the Office of Standard Reference Data, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

b) Feasibility Study of an Inter-Society Computer-Based Materials Property System, J. H. Westbrook (Metal Properties Council, New York, NY, 1982).

c) Mechanical Property Data for Metals and Alloys: Status of Data Reporting, Collecting,

Appraising, and Dissemination, J. A. Graham, Editor (National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1980).

10
Chapter 3

materials data in the nuclear industry

present and future

John P. Rowe

McDermott Incorporated

The most important issue for us to understand as we construct a framework for the workshops

tomorrow is that computer-integrated business is a reality today. The critical question for any given

enterprise is, in my opinion, whether it can adapt its operations to this new structure rapidly enough

to survive. Those who fail to try cannot survive.

Critical to the success of computer-integrated operations is the development of a database on which the various operations can draw for their direction. In companies including engineering

functions, this database must include materials properties. So... the question facing us is not whether

to computerize the materials data in our industry, but rather how can it be done most effectively to meet our collective needs.

The database for materials must address the various needs of different participants in our

industry. The materials producer must use this base to assure that his product meets required

specifications and that his operations are under control. The designer will need the "standard design

values" resulting from the analysis of the data, as well as the ability to examine the raw data, to assess the sensitivity of his design to postulated system conditions. Finally, the assessment of materials

following extensive service must rely on this database to indicate the effect of environment on the

serviceability of a given material. Encompassing all of these needs is the need to know how the data were taken; e.g., temperature control, specimen fabrication, material orientation, test machine cali- bration, etc. In short, the materials part of the "common database" is complex.

Twenty years ago needs for materials property data were much different from today. Relatively

simple properties such as tensile and yield strength, impact strength, hardness, and simple fatigue

properties were the basis for design. Today new and more complex properties are necessary to the

designer. These include fracture toughness, instrumented charpy testing, and strain hardening ex- ponents which, when combined with an increased awareness of the environmental effects and

supplemented by the capability to perform complex computer-controlled tests, have changed the

materials selection procedure immensely.

What the future holds for us is both exciting and scary. Clearly, software or computer modeling

will become increasingly important and will require test methods we don't know and design ap- proaches we haven't invented. What this workshop will address are these issues as related to the coming computer access to materials proerty data. We must understand what the existing databases are and how they are accessed. Data change

over time. How will databases keep up with these changes? The use of data must be discussed—do

we want only the statistically-averaged data, or design minima, or everything? Guidance is needed.

Other issues require equal consideration. Data validation and updating of old files is important.

Can data from existing sources be used "as is" or must we start from scratch again? Must we reassess the adequacy of our existing databases?

I don't want to end with a list of questions. We must move ahead with faith in our ability to answer these questions and to solve the problems as we meet them. Automation is no longer optional.

We can no longer wait. What we recommend from these discussions will help us in the Nuclear

Power Industry to move forward again.

11
Chapter 4

computerized materials data at EPRI

Joe Gilman

Electric Power Research Institute

In this paper an overview of the development of materials database systems is given as well as brief

descriptions of several databases built by the Electric Power Researrch Institute (EPRI) for the Nuclear Power Industry. A number of important lessons about databases have been learned by EPRI

and will be discussed.

A schematic outline of the major steps in developing a database is given in figure 6. For materials

properties in general, the process begins with raw data from laboratory tests which are recorded by

a variety of media which may or may not be machine-readable. After compilation, which often

requires manual transcription, checking, and reformatting, the assembled data are loaded into a database. Associated with the dabase is computer software that allows for sorting, searching, etc., and

is called the database management system. In addition, other software can provide statistical analysis

and graphical displays.

COMPUTERIZED

DATA SYSTEM

DEVELOPMENT

LABORATORY old data, TESTS new data, future data

various

1 media

DATABASE transcription

COMPILATION reformatting, ACTIVITY checking.

COMPUTERIZED

DATA FILE

on-line/off-line access,

search, sort, grouping,

displays, graphics.

COMPUTATIONAL

AIDS

numerics

statistics graphics

on-line or network access

information, decision-making

DATA

EVALUATION

ACTIVITY

REFERENCE

DATA SET

INDUSTRY

USE

trends, correlations, models, statistics, data acceptance criteria.

evaluated data.

fits, bounds,

limits of application.

DESIGN

CRITERIA

design curves, design methods

Figure 6. Stages in database development

12
At this point, depending on resources and priorities, the data can be evaluated by technical

professionals. In fact, until the last five years or so, most of the work prior to evaluation was done

manually, but computers can obviously greatly reduce this effort as well as provide evaluators with more powerful validation tools. The result of the validation process is a reference data set or a compilation of recommended

values which can be used by engineers in making technical decisions or which can be used to establish design criteria and standards. Depending on the application of the data, the user community, and available resources, one or more steps of the overall process may be changed or emphasized. For example, data evaluation often

results in a useful product itself, and work may not proceed beyond that point.

Over the past few years, EPRI has built a number of databases related to materials used in the Nuclear Power Industry (see table 5). These are available in a variety of ways and contain significant

amounts of evaluated data that have been used in determining solutions to problems related to the service performance and life of various components.

Table 5. EPRI databases of materials properties of interest to nuclear power industry

EDEAC—Environmentally-Assisted Cracking

MATSURV—Materials Surveillance Nuclear RPV Steel Irradiated NPV Steel MPC/PVRC Fracture Toughness

AIF/MPC Structural Steel AIF/MPC Bolting

The EPRI database for environmentally-assisted cracking (EDEAC) [1] was set up to support

data evaluation by the Metal Properties Council (MPC)/Pressure Vessel Reactor Committee

(PVRC) task group on crack propagation. It contains data from 2400 tests of crack growth rate for nuclear plant materials in light water reactor (LWR). It covers corrosion fatigue and stress-corrosion

cracking. The database was created at Battelle. The MATSURV Database contains information on materials surveillance for nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPV). The data are supplied by owners of RPVs and are concerned with the

fracture toughness of irradiated materials. At present, there is limited access to this database.

A number of the EPRI databases contain several different properties for various steels and other

materials used in nuclear power plants. These are summarized in table 6. The data in these databases

have been incorporated into a larger database called the Pressure Vessel Steel Database [2].

Table 6. Summary of properties in some EPRI databases

Database Properties

(partial)

Materials

(partial)

Reference

Nuclear Pressure Vessel Tensile

Steel Charpy V-notch

Nil ductility transition temp. Pre-cracked Charpy

Large specimen fracture toughness

7 base metals

25 weldments

3

Irradiated NPV Steel Charpy V-notch From 50 reactors and 73 capsules

4

MPC/PVRC Fracture Tensile Toughness Charpy

Fracture toughness

(Static & dynamic)

14 metals 5

AIF/MPC Structural Tensile 61 metals

Steel Charpy

Fracture toughness

The AIF/MPC Bolting Database [6] was established for data on materials in bolts used in nuclear

utilities. It contains not only composition and manufacturing information including heat treatment,

but also various mechanical properties. An additional database has been set up to catalog bolt failure experience.

13
In addition to the databases themselves, the Nuclear Safety Analysis Center of EPRI has

established a system of powerful retrieval and accessing capability to be used with the MATSURV

Database. The system includes a versatile, easy-to-use report generator that greatly enhances the

value of the database. An interesting feature is CHEMGEN which allows specification of materials

by their chemical composition. CHEMGEN allows identification, for example, of plants with materials containing the same amount of copper, nickel, phosphorus, silicon, and associated related data,

crucial for nondestructive testing calculations.

The EPRI experience with the above and other databases has made clear some important lessons.

First, it is possible to set up materials properties databases which can serve different needs, as has been

done for different segments of the nuclear industry. The applications have included: • Materials screening and selection

® Materials development and improvement • Model for materials behavior • Failure analysis and remedy development • Establishment of design criteria ® Prediction of component life

Cooperation of diverse interests is needed to avoid duplication of effort, proliferation of databases, and loss of continuity in efforts to establish and maintain them. The initial compilation of a database can be difficult and expensive. It is therefore important to plan ahead for efficient data

transmittal and checking. It is equally important that the database system has good storage, access, search, retrieval, sort, and analysis capability. Finally, data evaluation is a prerequisite to general use

to ensure accuracy and to guard against misinterpretation.

For The Metal Properties Council to be successful in their effort to build a materials data system

which links individual databases together, the databases themselves must be put together in an

intelligent fashion. The work described above should help as database building increases.

References

[1] EDEAC User Manual, available from Electric Power Research Institute, Nuclear Power

Division, 3412 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94303.

[2] PVS Users Manual, available from Materials Research and Computer Simulation, Inc., 5266

Holhster Ave., Suite 323, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (1984).

[3] "Nuclear Pressure Vessel Steel Database," EPRI Topical Report NP 2428 (Palo Alto, CA,

1982).

[4] W. Oldfield, "I rradiated Nuclear Pressure Vessel Steel Database," EPRI Topical Report

NP 933 (Palo Alto, CA, 1978).

[5] "Reference Fracture Toughness Procedures Applied to Pressure Vessel Materials," ASME

Publication—MPC 24 (New York, NY, 1984).

[6] "Bolts Database Procedure Manual," available from Materials Research and Computer

Simulation, Inc., 5266 Hollister Ave., Suite 323, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (1983).

14
Chapter 5

The National Materials

Property Data Network, Inc.

Adolph Schaefer

The Metal Properties Council, Inc.

During the past few years, The Metal Properties Council (MPC) has become interested in seeing that engineers in American industry have access to valid materials property data via computer. This

workshop in fact has been put together as a result of that interest. Until recently, oversight of the MPC activities in this area has resided with our Task Group on Computerized Materials Data which

has been led by James Graham of John Deere, Inc. During the last year, the need for a more formal organization to lead the effort to build the

proposed data system has become obvious, and in late 1983, The National Materials Property Data

Network filed incorporation papers in Albany, New York. In spring of 1984, these papers were

approved.

The purpose of this organization is to develop an overall strategy to plan, design, and build a comprehensive materials data system as described elsewhere in this book. This Network will embrace

a number of autonomous databases. A Board of Directors, headed by Ernest Daman of Foster Wheeler, Inc. (table 7), has been named. The Board of Directors has met and authorized the start of

work on the national system.

Table 7. The National Materials Property Data Network, Inc. —Members of Board of Directors

John C. Bard The Aluminum Association, Inc.

Arden L. Bement, Jr. TRW, Inc.

Harry E. Cook

Ford Motor Company

Ernest L. Daman

Foster Wheeler Corporation

J. Lee Everett

Philadelphia Electric Company

J. J. Harwood

Metropolitan Center for High Technology

John Landis Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation

William D. Manly

Cabot Corporation

Wallace Markert, Jr. Babcock & Wilcox Company

Darrell H. Reneker

National Bureau of Standards

Charles W. Robinson Energy Transition Corporation

Kenneth A. Roe

Burns & Roe, Inc.

Adolph O. Schaefer The Metal Properties Council, Inc.

George H. Siegel Allied Corporation

Charles K. Leeper

Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Following the recommendation of an MPC-sponsored feasibility study, the Board has two

immediate objectives—one short-term and one long-term. In the short term, the first step is to hire a President or an Executive Director whose responsibility will be to formulate an appropriate

15
business plan to achieve the stated goals of the corporation and to develop pilot or demonstration

projects. The Director will be able to draw on the work of the existing MPC Task Group as well as that of other interested parties. The planning stage is expected to be accomplished within two years. The longer term goal of the present Board is to shape the structure of the permanent corporation

to plan, build, and run the system in the future. Such plans of course will be developed as the work

of the new executive, but the Board will be the body to set in motion the plans that are made.

The MPC effort to date has made use of the time and energy of many enthusiastic people to reach

the present stage. Not only has the need for computer access been firmly established and endorsed,

but also a viable concept to answer those needs has been developed. These latest steps by MPC ensure

that in the coming revolution of computerized engineering, computer access to materials data will be

available in the United States.

16
Workshop conclusions

The four major groups of questions

1. Specification of the Database

2. Scope Definition

3. User Interface

4. Making the System Happen

were each discussed by two or three independent task groups who later reported their findings at a plenary session. The findings of each set of task groups are blended in the summary report of the

conclusions of the workshop which are presented in the next section of this report. The discussion

questions are listed in italics at the beginning of each chapter.

17

Chapter 6

specification

of the data system

How should the database be specified in terms of the following? Give as many examples as possible. • Materials • Properties • Precision of data • Validation of data • Source of data • Derived data • Test methods

% Other

Perhaps the most important consideration in building a comprehensive materials information system

is the specification of the data to which the user community wants access. The general conclusion of

the workshop was that such specification must also reflect applications and economics as well as the more traditional material/property associations. Further, it is critical that the data be well documented as to their reliability, source, and test method. Materials identification must be as precise as possible and equivalencies defined accurately. More specific points follow.

Materials. It is important that materials be designated in several ways: on an individual basis, by

classes, and by application areas. Examples of the last two are shown.

The identification of an individual material must be as complete as possible. Not only does the

chemical composition—both actual and nominal—as well as its heat treatment need to be given, but

also the vendor, time of production, specimen orientation, and location and microstructure if available. Materials identification should include both a unique designation such as is given for alloys by

the Unified Numbering System (UNS) but also common and trade names wherever possible. For

alloys, much of this information is routinely available, but for ceramics, polymers, and composites, it often is not. A file of materials specification literals and equivalencies must also be associated with any

materials information system. Such a database should be international and cover all engineering

materials, not just alloys.

Properties. Because of the nature of the energy source—nuclear fission, the materials data users in the nuclear power industry need properties in addition to those commonly needed in other industries. These include radiation effects and neutronics. A summary of needed properties is given below.

Class

Steels Structural

Tool

etc. Aluminum alloys

Polymers

etc.

Application areas Weldments

Bolting

Hard-facing

High-temperature

Corrosion resistance

etc.

19
Materials properties

Mechanical

Physical

Thermophysical

Economic

Cost

Availability

Applications

Weldability

Machinability

Fabricability

Wear and erosion

Corrosion

Radiation effects Neutronics

It was recognized that cost information can be highly variable and that often, only relative, or the range of cost is really what is needed. Availability also is a very subjective set of data but a very

desirable one.

In addition to the properties themselves, the relationship between the properties, especially for a given application, is important. Consequently, if a user were interested in heat transfer, he would

be presented with a list of all properties that need to be considered and not just thermal conductivity.

Such information or "metadata," as it is often called, has not as yet been developed in any substantial way for engineering data. The utility of engineering metadata is, however, very high.

Precision, Validation, and Source of Data. Most materials data are used either in designing and

making a product or in analyzing why it worked or failed to work. The quality of data plays an

important role in the decision-making process. Often, the cost-effectiveness of a design depends on

material selection, and the better the quality of data, the better is the selection. The validation of these data is the key to improving their quality. At present, only a small amount

of validation of mechanical property data is being done. As a consequence, the quality of data is implicit and relies heavily on the reputation of the compiler or group issuing the data. Since the proposed materials data network will access individual databases, the identity of the

database source will be evident. In this way, the network will be no different from a library which

provides access to numerous individual books. It would be very useful, however, if the data network

would add a quality indicator to individual databases and if individual databases would provide

traceability for individual data values. The long-term solution is to increase validation activity under

the leadership of groups such as MPC, NBS, and the technical societies. The precision of the data is intertwined with the validation process. Researchers may assign their estimated precision, but this is usually only a rough estimate. Mechanical and corrosion property data

are test-method dependent, and independent assessment of the precision through consideration of a large amount of similar data is necessary. The fact that data have been validated does not mean that the user is absolved of exercising good

engineering judgment. But questions of liability for validated databases should parallel those for printed data compilations as long as accepted indications of source are included.

Derived Data. In many cases, evaluated "raw" data are most useful to the user since these data will more accurately portray the full range of possible values. However, derived values often can be

equally usable. By "derived" is meant either ranges of values—minimums, maximums, nominal

values; combined or synthetic data; curve fitting; and interpolations/extrapolations. While there is a place for each of these, their use must be clearly indicated. It is particularly important that when used,

the derivation technique is specified.

It may be most desirable for individual databases to store only raw or experimental numbers but

to include the capability to execute calculations on demand. In that case, the functional forms could

either be standardized or provided by the user.

Test Methods. A catalog of test methods and associated standards on an international basis will be a necessary part of a comprehensive materials data system. Since so many mechanical and corrosion

properties are test-dependent, the capability to compare different test methods will be important.

It was pointed out that a need exists for standard reference materials to calibrate mechanical

property test methods and that the National Bureau of Standards should issue such materials.

Other. One type of data often mentioned as being important in improving the quality of product

design is service experience . Data pertaining to how a given material performed under such-and-such

conditions are extremely valuable. Such data often are hard to find and even more difficult to quantify

but, when available, they are extremely useful.

20
In summary, the needs of the nuclear power industry for industrial data are often similar to needs

of other user groups with the exception of the radiation effects on various materials. The expense of

replacing failed or suspect components is costly, and convenient accesss to validated materials data

will bring significant savings.

21
Chapter 7

scope

definition

• What is the minimum size system that would be useful? • What traditional data sources in your industry/organization must be included?

9 What are the significant gaps in reliable materials data that have to be filled for your applications?

9 Can data from recognized, reputable sources be accepted as input or must the data be reviewed

again?

The primary criteria for determining the size of a materials data system are that it should contain answers for the majority of the questions asked. In the Nuclear Power Industry, there are two generic

applications of materials, namely:

® Structural • Fuel assembly

From this point of view, the number of materials is probably less than in many other industries. But in another sense, the range of materials is large when other related applications are included:

® Piping and Pressure Vessels

# High-temperature Systems

© Heat Exchangers

Many of the demands for materials data in the industry are not related to the design of new plants

and equipment, but instead to maintenance, repair, and retrofit of those already in place, including

many small components. So for highest utility, the materials data system should contain data for a wide range of ferrous and copper alloys.

A better way to indicate the range of materials and properties is to list some of the traditional handbooks used by engineers in this field (table 8). While not inclusive, the list as a whole would

provide answers to many questions. Unfortunately, few, if any, of these are machine-readable, and no

assessment has been made of discrepancies, gaps, and contradictions.

Table 8. Materials data handbooks commonly used in the nuclear power industry

Ref. ASME Code—Section II 1 NRC Regulatory Guides 2 Stainless Steel Handbook 3 Corrosion Handbook 4 American Welding Society Handbook 5 Super Alloy Handbook 6 International Metallic Materials Cross Reference 7 American Society for Metals Handbook 8 Military Handbook 5 9 Welding Research Council 10 Metcut Machining Data Handbook 11 Structural Alloys Handbook 12 Aerospace Structural Metals Handbook 13 Mechanical Properties Design Data Reports 14 Properties of Heavy Section Nuclear Reactor Steel 15 Worldwide Guide to Equivalent Irons and Steels 16

22
One very positive feature of using the existing handbooks in a database is that each has an identity

of its own, which means that some validation of the data has already been accomplished. Therefore,

additional review will be needed only by exception. The situation is different with respect to data that have only been published in a journal or a report. Usually the authors have not assessed the quality,

and therefore an independent evaluation is needed. The computer itself has become a tool to help do

this. Documentation of the validation process is most important. The conclusion is that validation is necessary for data to be useful, and the validation process to create a handbook in published form is good enough for the computerized form. In general, there needs to be an improvement in the quality

of mechanical and corrosion property data, but it is not a barrier to building a materials data system.

A particular problem in "computerizing" such printed handbooks is how to digitize graphs and

autographic records and how to handle the necessary textual notes and explanations within the limited character-space format of the terminal screen. A major important traditional source of materials data is the vendor/supplier data sheets. A

number of trade associations have put together some of this information. Such sets might also be

candidates for computerization.

Yet, even taken all together, all the existing handbooks and compilations do not provide all the materials data that are needed. For example, actual stress-strain curves are often needed rather than

just the yield strengths. There are other examples of where original experimental data have been

reduced to fewer numbers. These include the use of nominal values, minimum design values, etc. Now that the full power of the computer can be made available, some of these data gaps caused by

compression could be avoided by more complete reporting of results. Other gaps are caused by the fact that some data are difficult to characterize. Examples are

friction, wear, corrosion, and weldments. In each case, it is hard to specify the exact internal structure and stress state, external loading conditions, environment and surface parameters, and processing

history necessary fully to qualify the test data. In any case, the ability to use these data in design is subject to problems. These data, however, really reflect the possible service performance of the

materials, and efforts to improve their quality and application would lead to potentially better performance.

Yet again, one can classify gaps in existing materials data in an entirely different way. First some

data are obscure, or hard to find or know about. It is often impossible to track down old data that are published in foreign journals or government reports. However, once they are found, their use is straightforward and relevant. A comprehensive materials data system with a diversity of individual

databases does offer the possibility that these data can be found, but an effort will be needed to take

advantage of that possibility.

Another class of data missing from the usual collections are those considered proprietary. In a contracting and competitive industry such as nuclear power, this can be a very complex situation. Here the problem is that someone can know where the data are but cannot get to them. A materials

data network can also help in the case of new data, allowing for easier updating. It can also aid in identifying nonexistent data and alert both data generators and users that important values are

missing.

References

[1] ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section II, Materials Specifications (American Society

of Mechanical Engineers, New York, NY, 1977).

[2] Regulatory Guides—Nuclear Regulatory Commission—10 Divisions, Table of Contents and

Guides are available from Division of Document and Control, Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, Washington, DC 20555.

[3] Handbook of Stainless Steels, D. Peckner and I. M. Bernstein, Editors (McGraw-Hill, New

York, NY, 1977).

[4] H. H. Uhlig, Corrosion Handbook (Wiley-Interscience, New York, NY, 1948).

[5] Welding Handbook, A. L. Phillips, Editor, 7th Edition (Welding Research Council, New York,

NY, 1982).

[6] M. Wahll et al., Handbook of SuperAlloys, Vol. 2 of Handbook of International Alloy

Compositions and Designations (Metals and Ceramics Information Center, Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH, 1979).

[7] International Metallic Materials Cross Reference, D. L. Potts and J. Arcuri, Editors, 2nd

Edition (General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY, 198j).

23
[8] Metals Handbook, 9th Edition, 7 vols., 8th Edition, 11 vols. (American Society for Metals,

Cleveland, OH, 1984).

[9] Military Standardization Handbook, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle

Structures, MIL-HDBK-5D, 2 vols, (available from Naval Publications and Forms Center,

5801 Tabor Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19120).

[10] Welding Research Council Bulletin (Welding Research Council, New York, NY).

[11] Machining Data Handbook, 2nd Edition (Machinability Data, Metcut Research, Cincinnati,

OH, 1972).

[12] Structural Alloys Handbook, 2 vols. (Metals and Ceramics Information Center, Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH, 1983).

[13] Aerospace Structural Metals Handbook, 5 vols. (Metals and Ceramics Information Center,

Battelle Columbus Laboratories, Columbus, OH, 1983).

[14] Mechanical Properties Design Data Program—Semiannual Reports, J. R. DiStefano, Editor

(Materials and Structures Technology Management Center, Oak Ridge National

Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 1974).

[15] J. M. Hodge, Properties of Heavy Section Nuclear Reactor Steels, WRC Bulletin Series no. 217 (American Welding Society, New York, NY, 1976)

[16] Worldwide Guide to Equivalent Irons and Steels (American Society for Metals, Cleveland,

OH, 1979).

24
Chapter 8

user interface

and system capabilities

What kinds of system capabilities should be built in? • Number look-up • File inversion • Statistical analysis • Graphical display • Computational packages • Print output

What auxiliary files should be built in? • Tutorial programs • Materials designation cross-references • Units conversion • Internal validation

What kind of CAD/CAM capabilities should be available?

A consensus was reached by all groups discussing this topic that the system capabilities defined in the

question were all needed. They were in fact the minimum required for the interface to be userfriendly. Several other needs were also identified. Downloading privileges are considered necessary. For many users, the results of a particular

search are used as input to further computer manipulation, either on a personal computer or on

another local facility. The user will want to load this information onto local files for further access, and there should be some flexibility in how this downloading can be formatted.

It was suggested that the system allow for user-defined files, either large ones containing a proprietary database or small ones for further reference. There should also be a provision for electronic user feedback so that minor problems, suggestions for improvements, etc., could be

brought to the attention of the system operators.

Graphics capability was viewed as not merely "nice to have" but essential for many types of

engineering analysis: qualitative comparison of materials, comparison with theory, testing empirical

property correlations, display of raw data for sensing of "outliers," abnormal distributions of data,

etc. The question of how to make sure the engineer properly uses the data presented was discussed.

It was strongly felt that only tutorials relating to the use of the system, e.g., control commands, should

be available. Tutorials on materials engineering should not be present. Yet there was also the feeling that the user should be as aware as possible of relevant information outside the system. It was

suggested that an option be included to provide, for each material in the system, primary constraining

properties such as "cost $100/pound" or "should not be used in seawater." However, since much of

this information is not contained in present-day handbooks, the ASM Metals Handbook being one

notable exception, the question of how to develop such information was raised, with no conclusion

being reached.

25
An extension of this view was the suggestion of including experience whenever possible. As can

be imagined, such enhanced databases would be extremely difficult to build and, more realistically,

would begin to approach "expert systems." It was pointed out that the proposed system is aimed at providing better access to data for input into the materials selection, not computerizing the materials

selection process itself. There was general agreement that comprehensive materials designation cross-references and

units conversion capability will be necessary. Internal validation and consistency checks were also seen as important. A number of standard algorithms often used in nuclear engineering were desired,

including:

- Neutron fluence translators - CVN^K,C - da/dn parameter calculations (AKth , C, and M)

- Larsen-Miller parameters

- Dorn parameters

While CAD/CAM is regarded a primary driving force for computerized materials data, it is regarded as unfeasible that the gateway system itself have CAD capability. In fact, because CAD

software will become so application-dependent, it will be more available to users on their own

computers. This conclusion matches that of other workshops.

Another consideration is that such systems will have to be made suitable for student use—not just as a convenient means of access to data but in order to teach modern design procedures.

Underlying all of the above discussion was one very important theme: that the user interface be

truly user-friendly. Though the term user-friendly is overused, here it has a specific meaning: that an engineer can use the proposed materials data system without having to turn constantly to manuals or telephone hotlines, without having to adopt new nomenclature, and with being able to do simple

searches easily, to make more difficult searches straightforwardly, and to manipulate data without

hassle. With a system like this, acceptance would be no problem.

26
Chapter 9

making the system happen

• How can industry, technical societies, and government make sure computerized access to materials data

becomes a reality? • What kind of technical committees need to be established and under what auspices? • How can we ensure that the user community gets what it wants from such a system? • How can we persuade our individual companies to support this system?

The conclusion of the workshop was that industry, technical societies, and government must work

together cooperatively to bring computerized access to materials data into being. Since engineers in industry will be the largest users, it is appropriate to turn to industry for the bulk of the support

needed to build the system. The MPC effort to establish its oversight corporation was highly

commended, and the participants indicated that they would work to alert their managers of their

interest in the system.

There was a consensus that government groups, such as the National Bureau of Standards,

should continue to act as facilitators for working to bring different groups together to cooperate. In

addition, the need for a demonstration system was put forward, and the group felt it was appropriate

for the government to provide the necessary resources. The demonstration system should be large

enough to exercise the gateway concept fully, yet be designed and implemented for use as a building

block by the MPC and other private sector groups for their own systems.

The workshop felt it was important that an active technical advisory committee be formed to provide guidance during the demonstration project. It was suggested that MPC, ASTM, NBS, and

other technical societies establish committees to resolve standardization issues, to evaluate and

review data, and to encourage database building. In addition, advisory committees from various

industries, such as the Nuclear Power Industry, should be set up to help plan the system and maintain

user interest during the building stages.

Once set up, the demonstration system will be a valuable tool for involving the general membership of various technical societies through its use at meetings and exhibitions. It should be coupled

with a more active publicity program which should feature news articles in society news magazines

and talks at technical meetings and before local chapters.

The report from this workshop, similar to those from the meeting for the Ground Vehicle

Industry and the Fall 1982 Workshop at Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, should be widely circulated. Future workshops for other industrial users will be very useful, especially with advance publicity.

It was suggested that an in-depth review of individual databases would be extremely useful since the information is not generally available. A proposed study of the economic benefits of such a system was also endorsed.

In conclusion, the most important recommendation was that definite action be undertaken

towards building the system. A demonstration system will be extremely valuable and would help

generate industrial support for a more comprehensive system.

27
Appendix A

list of attendees

John Aadland Babcock and Wilcox

Utility Power Generation Division

P.O. Box 1260 3315 Old Forest Road

Lynchburg, VA 24505 804 385-2301

M. K. Booker Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box X

Oak Ridge, TN 37831 615 574-5113

Craig R. Cantrell TVA

W11D128

400 W. Summit Hill Drive

Knoxville, TN 37902

615 632-7906

A. Eugene Carden

P.O. Box 2908

University, AL 35486

205 348-7241

Bonnie Carroll Office of Scientific and Technical

Information Department of Energy

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Stuart Crawford TVA

400 W. Summit Hill Drive

Knoxville, TN 37902

William D. Going

TVA

1050 CST-2

Chattanooga, TN 37401

Al Hiser

Materials Engineering Associates, Inc. 9700B George Palmer Highway

Lanham, MD 20706

301 577-9490

Alan Kephart

Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory

General Electric Corporation

P.O. Box 1072

Bldg. A-Room 122 Schenectady, NY 12301

Ian Mair Lukens Steel, Inc. Coatsville, PA 19320

215 383-3104

Sarah McNaughton

New York State Power Authority

123 Main Street White Plains, NY 10601 914 681-6419

William Oldfield MRCS, Inc. 5266 Hollister Avenue

Suite 323 Santa Barbera, CA 93111

Adolph Schaefer Metal Properties Council

345 E. 47th Street New York, NY 10017 212 705-7693

A. V. Swaroop

Combustion Engineering, Inc. 1000 Prospect Hill Road

P.O. Box 500 Windsor, CT 06095-0500

203 688-1911 Ext 4801

R. W. Swindeman

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box X

Oak Ridge, TN 37831 615 574-5108

Thomas Thornton Babcock and Wilcox, UPGD

P.O. Box 1260 Lynchburg, VA 20505

Jack H. Westbrook

General Electric R&D

120 Erie Blvd. Schenectady, NY 12305

518 385-0929

William S. Galloway

Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.

89 East Avenue

Rochester, NY 14649 716 724-8361

Joe D. Gilman EPRI

P.O. Box 10412

Palo Alto, CA 94303

415 855-8911

Jerry Glazman

Combustion Engineering

Dept. 9452-510

100 Prosepct Hill Road

Windsor, CT 06095

203 688-1911 x4934

Nicholas Panayotou

W/A-65

Westinghouse Hanford Co.

P.O. Box 1970

Richland, WA 99352

509 376-3854

Jack Rowe

Manager, Technology Division McDermott, Inc. 20 S. Van Buren

Barberton, OH 44203

John Rumble, Jr. National Bureau of Standards A323 Physics Bldg.

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

301 921-3441

28
Appendix B

further readings

Prior to a workshop on a similar subject, held in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee in 1982, a bibliography was prepared of 29 articles of importance in the field of computerized materials data. Since that time, several additional articles and books on this subject have appeared. The entire list is given here with

hope that the reader will find value from the additional ideas contained therein.

Engineering Databases

J. H. Westbrook and J. R. Rumble, Jr., Eds., "Computerized Materials Data Systems," Proceedings

of a Workshop (1982). Available from the Office of Standard Reference Data, National Bureau

of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

J. A. Graham, Ed., An On-Line Materials Property Base, MPC-20 (American Society of Mechanical

Engineers, New York, NY, 1983).

Contents: The Metal Properties Council Activities on a National Materials Property Data

Network by J. A. Graham

Network Options for Materials Properties Databases by H. B. Landau

The Use of BASIS for Online Numeric Databases by H. Mindlin and R. Gubiotti

Computers and Evaluating Elevated Temperature Property Data by M. Prager and

D. A. Canonico

Validation of Data on Materials Properties by D. R. Lide, Jr.

Use of an On-Line Data Base in Pressure Vessel Design by J. J. McGowan

Computer Software Needs of Materials Property Data Bases for Selected

Engineering Applications by J. T. Fong

Review of CINDAS Materials Properties Data Bank by H. H. Li and C. Y. Ho

"Materials Properties Data Management—Approaches to a Critical National Need," Report of the

National Materials Advisory Board (National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1983).

J. C. Bittence, "Property Databases Are Coming Your Way," Materials Engineering, August 1984.

J. A. Graham et al., "Mechanical Properties Data for Metals and Alloys—Status of Data Reporting,

Collecting, Appraising and Disseminating." NDAB-NRC (1980), 24 pages.

J. H. Westbrook, "Progress Towards a Coordinated System of Databases Covering the Engineering

Properties of Materials," in Development and Use ofNumerical and Factual Data Bases , AGARD

Lecture Series No. 130 (1983). Available from NASA, Langley Field, VA 23365, Attn: Report

Distribution Unit.

"Computerized Materials Data—A Workshop for Ground Vehicle Engineering," J. Rumble and T. Northrup, Eds. (Society of Automotive Engineering, Warrendale, PA, 1984).

29
D. R. Lide, Jr., Ed., "The Effects of Computers on the Generation and Use of Technical Data,"

NBSIR 84-2907 (National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 1984).

E. J. Breton, "Why Engineers Don't Use Databases," ASIS Bull., August 1981, pp. 20-23.

E. Buck, "The Industrial Data Bank: Utopia vs. the Real World," in Phase Equilibria and Fluid

Properties in Chemical Industry, (American Chemical Society, 1975) pp. 455-458.

J. H. Veyette, Jr., R. Bezilla, and Y. S. Touloukian, Alternatives for Accessing Engineering Numerical

Data, Final Report on Phase I, DSI Grant No. 76/16654. Engineering Index, Inc., Benson &

Benson, Inc., and CINDAS, March 1978.

J. H. Westbrook, "Feasibility Study of an Inter-Society Computer-based Materials Property

System." A Study for the Metal Properties Council, December 1982.

J. H. Westbrook and J. D. Desai, "Data Sources for Materials Scientists and Engineers." Ann. Rev. Materials Sci. 8 (1978): 359.

J. H. Westbrook, "Cooperation in Building Computerized Materials Data Systems," in Data for

Science and Technology, Proc. 8th Int. CODATA Conf. , P. S. Glaeser, Ed. (Pergamon, 1983).

J. T. Fong, Ed., "Engineering Databases: Software for On-line Applications," ASME Special Publ. H00310 (American Society for Mechanical Engineering, New York, 1984).

Applications

Materials Selection

P. A. Gutteridge, "Using a Computer to Aid Materials Selection and Design," Plastics and Rubber

Int. 5 (1980): 151-155.

P. M. Appoo, "A Computerized Materials Database for an Automotive Manufacturer," in Data for

Science and Technology: Proc. 7th Int. CODATA Conf. , edited by P. S. Glaeser. Pergamon, 1981, pp. 431-440.

L. Olsson, U. Bengston, and H. Fischmeister, "Computer-Aided Materials Selection," in Computers

in Materials Technology , edited by T. Ericsson. Pergamon, 1981, pp. 17-25.

R. R. Paxton, S. Chenowsky, and D. W. Moyer, "Bearing Tests—Data Storage and Retrieval,"

Lubric, Eng. 37 (1981): 323-328.

Computer-Aided Design

B. J. Dabell and S. J. Hill, "The Use of Computers in Fatigue Design and Development," Int. J. Fatigue 1 (1979): 29-35.

J. G. Kaufmann and S. F. Collis, "A Fracture Toughness Data Bank," ASTM J. Testing and Eval. 9

(1981): 121-126.

G. Wang and E. E. Spier, "Design and Allowables of Advanced Composites Determined by Use of

a Computer Data Bank System," in ASTM STP 674 Conf. on Composite Materials—Testing and

Design, 1979, pp. 71-83.

D. R. Galliart, S. D. Downing, and H. D. Berns, "Computer Based Material Properties—An

Effective Link to Reliable Products," Closed Loop 9 (1979): 3-14.

C. M. Eastman, "Database Facilities for Engineering Design," Proc. IEEE 69 (1981): 1249.

Materials Optimization

S. Iwata et al., "Alloy Design by Automatic Modeling and Estimation of Values from Experimental

Data," /. Faculty of Eng., U. of Tokyo 33 (1976): 545-610.

30
J. K. L. Lai, "Optimizing the Stress Rupture Properties of AISI Type 316 Stainless Steel with the Aid

of Computers," /. Nucl. Materials 99 (1981): 148-153.

D. H. Breen et al., "Computer-Based System Selects Optimum Cost Steel-IV," Metal Progress , June

1973, pp. 83-88.

M. K. Booker and B. L. P. Booker, "New Methods for Analysis of Materials Strength Data for the

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code," in Use of Computers in Managing Materials Properties

Data. ASME, 1980, pp. 31-64.

Materials Processing

B. Miller, "Computer Improves the Odds in Injection Mold Design," Plastics World, July 1979, 4

pages.

S. Feldman, "Minitech Computerized Alloy Steel Information System," in Hardenability Concepts

with Applications to Steel, edited by D. V. Doane and J. S. Kirkaldy. AIME, 1978, 20 pages.

W. J. Zdeblick, "Real-Time Manufacturing Data Selection System," in Proc. 12th CIRP Int. Seminar

on Manufacturing Systems, 1980, pp. 243-263.

D. Lee, "Computer-Aided Control of Sheet Metal Forming Processes," J. Metals 34: 10 (1982):

20-29.

Information Systems Design

Yu. D. Mischenko, "Methodological Foundations of the Logical Design of a Data Base Proceeding

from the Mechanical Properties of Materials," Strength of Materials 3:3 (1981): 397-400.

D. M. Liston and M. S. Schoene, "A Systems Approach to the Design and Information Systems,"

JASIS, March/April 1971, 8 pages.

M. E. Senko et al., "Data Structures and Accessing in Data-Base Systems," IBM Systems J. 12 (1973):

30-93.

C. S. Yang, "Design and Evaluation of File Structures," Annual Rev. Information Science and Tech. 13 (1978): 125-143.

G. Dathe and K. -H. Dreckmann, "MAINS Iron & Steel: An Information System for Iron and Steel Materials," in Data Documentation: Some Principles and Applications in Science and Industry,

edited by W. Gaus and R. Henzler. Verlag Dokumentation: Munich, 1977, pp. 25-47.

M. M. Gorman, "Choosing the Right DBMS for Your Application," Computer World 15 (1981):

ID9-16.

J. R. Rumble, Jr. and V. E. Hampel, Eds., "Database Management in Science and Technology"

(North Holland-Elsevier, New York, 1984).

General

J. A. Luedke, G. J. Kovacs, and J. B. Fried, "Numeric Data Bases and Systems," Ann. Rev. Information Science and Technology 12 (1977): 119.

S. L. Burgoon et al., The Viability and Impact ofElectronic Storage and the Delivery ofHandbook-Type

Information . Krall Management Inc. and Battelle-Columbus Laboratories. Prepared for NSF

contract C1007, August 1977, NTIS PB 278 072.

T. E. Doszkocs, B. A. Rapp, and H. M. Schoolman, "Automated Information Retrieval in Science

and Technology," Science 208 (1980): 25.

D. T. Hawkins, "Problems in Physical Property Data Retrieval," /. Chem. Inf. Computer Sci. 20

(1980): 143-145.

31
S. R. Heller, "The Economics of On-Line Data Dissemination," in Data for Science and Technology:

Proc. 7th Int. CODATA Con/., edited by P. S. Glaeser. Pergamon, 1981, pp. 578-585.

V. E. Hampel "Fact Retrieval for the 1980's," in Proc. Tech. Inform. Panel AGARD Conf. CPP-304

(1981), 36 pages.

D. R. Lide, "Critical Data for Critical Needs," Science 212 (1981): 1343-1349.

32
Appendix C

glossary

algorithm A term used to describe a procedure or set of procedures for solving a problem,

application software Special programs (see software) that actually use the computer and its auxiliaries to solve a problem identified by a user.

CAD/CAM Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing: these terms have become

descriptive of the use of computers—first to design products, then to produce them.

central facility A computing center at some institution that provides services to several users. computation package Software that calculates data by solving mathematical equations.

computerized (computer-readable, computer-searchable, computer-processible, machine-readable)

Converted to a form (digitized) which can be stored, read, and retrieved by a computer.

computerized access The use of computers to find information or data. computerized engineering A term that has arisen to describe the use of computers in the full range of

engineering activities, from design and analysis to manufacturing and testing.

computer modeling The process of solving a mathematical model of a physical phenomenon by use of a computer.

data That subset of scientific or technical information or facts that can be represented by numbers,

tables, graphs, models, or symbols (sometimes called information bits) or data bits. data bank A collection of information or data in numerical form, or equivalent, for a particular

subject area. database A collection of computerized files, whether in numerical, alphabetical, alpha-numeric,

tabular, graphical, or mathematical form,

database generator (producer) An organization that develops and maintains the database. In the

bibliographic field, these often are the abstracting and indexing services which also produce the paper copy service. database management system (DBMS) A computer system with management and administrative

capabilities for control of record storage, selection, updating, formatting, and reporting from a database. database vendors Information-supply companies that purchase or lease a number of databases,

develop searching and billing procedures, arrange for telecommunication networks to make the

search services available, promote the use, train potential users, and charge user fees. data evaluation (sometimes called validation or appraisal) A multistep process involving examination

and appraisal of the data in question, assessment of experimental technique and associated errors, comparison with other experimental or theoretical values, reanalysis and recalculation of derived

quantities as required, selection of "best" values, and assignment of probable error or reliability.

data item (also data element) The smallest unit of data that has meaning in describing information; the

smallest unit of named data. data system See information system

demonstration system Here, this refers to a small data network which will show that computer access

to materials data via a gateway system works and is feasible,

derived data Property data that result from a combination of stored property data by use of empirical or theoretical models.

descriptors The word definitions of the characteristics of the material, property, test, environment,

etc., necessary to define the data.

33
digitized Converted into computer-readable form wherein all information units (letters, numbers,

symbols, graphs, picture elements) are represented by on-off sequences of electronic impulses,

display The graphic representation of data on an output device.

distributed system A decentralized system of computer utilization through an electronically

connected network of computers that are able to interface with each other. documentation Records or documents kept to show how a computer system, language, or program

works; changes made to the original design and reasons for them.

download Transfer of a large body of data from one computer memory to another storage location.

evaluated data Data that have been examined by experts who assign indicators of the data's quality

and reliability.

expert system A computer system design based on logic,

field A subdivision of a record in a data file.

file inversion Implementation of a computer program that searches all files for a particular property

or combination of properties and then "inverts" the record to display all materials having the desired property or properties.

format A "template" used for the input and output of data values.

gateway A computer that primarily acts as a switchboard or node for a number of components of a

total information system. It should contain a master index to the available resources (databases),

connect authorized users automatically to any of these databases, translate protocols and formats,

permit the aggregation of reasonable amounts of extracted information and data, and offer a

resident library of software tools by which these data can be postprocessed, analyzed, and dis- played.

graphics As commonly used, this is software that generates graphs and other computer-drawn

figures.

hardware Any piece of physical equipment associated with computer processing and communication

networks.

help file A file of tutorial instructions or explanations that can be invoked when the user is baffled by

terms appearing on the screen or is unable to ascertain his or her status within an operating

program.

information Knowledge acquired or derived; knowledge that can be collected, stored or filed, retrieved, and used to create other knowledge. To be useful, information must be pertinent,

comprehensible, dependable, and convenient.

information/data center A specific organization committed to handling a set of material under a formalized information/data storage and retrieval system. If the stored material is reviewed by

experts in the field, the activity is called an information (or data) analysis center. information system (sometimes information storage, retrieval system) A mechanism for acquiring,

filing, storing, and retrieving an organized body of knowledge, together with the access mechanisms and other user assists. input/output economic model An analysis model developed by W. W. Leontief to estimate the direct

and indirect costs and benefits for a given economic situation. interactive The term applied to the interplay between the computer and the user at a terminal.

internal validation and consistency checks The procedures included in software to make sure that data

are reasonable and expressed in proper units. For example, a birth date cannot be greater than the present date and must show month, day, and year. Often data are combined to make sure that every

item is consistent within specified limits.

34
keyword A term used for indexing or retrieval purposes, either derivative —keyword-in-context

(KWIC) and keyword-out-of-context (KWOC), or assigned —usually from a controlled vocabulary or thesaurus.

language The means by which users describe to the computer the kinds of operations to be

performed. Machine language is the set of instructions wired into the computer. Query language

is especially designed to aid the user in searching a database.

literals Long strings of characters processed by the computer without any transformation or

reformatting, as opposed to numbers, etc.

machine-readable Information that is digitized and can be stored, read, retrieved, and manipulated by

a computer (see computerized).

material identification The data necessary to specify a material. For alloys, ceramics, and polymers,

this includes chemistry, molecular weight, microstructure, heat treatment, and many other data,

material performance For the purposes of this report, these are mechanical, corrosion, and physical

properties of a material that help determine the service life of a product,

materials designation cross-reference A table of synonyms for specification of a material. It can

contain trade names, common names, and chemistry,

materials profile A listing of desired properties for a particular material with quantitative values

specified whenever possible in terms of allowed range, minimum, maximum, etc. metadata A detailed description of data in a database that provides systematic information for users, application programs, and database management software. Metadata itself can be manipulated and

searched.

network A communications system, wired or radio-linked, which connects computers and users, number look-up The process of searching a database for the values in one or more data descriptors

when some data items are specified. An example would be finding the tensile strength of a designated material at a given temperature,

numerical database A database containing information in numerical form, such as physical and

chemical properties or quantities manufactured.

on-line Access to an information system by a user in what appears to be direct, constant connection

to the operating computer via a computer terminal.

personal computer Usually refers to a desktop computer with CRT display, keyboard, and sometimes

disks, that sells for a few thousand dollars or less, post-processing facilities The software that is used to manipulate and display data retrieved from a database. primary constraining property This is the property that most likely determines that a material will not be used. Examples are cost—$100/lb or more qualitative such as corrodes rapidly in sea water. program (software) A set of instructions that tells the computer exactly what to do, how to do it, and

when.

proprietary database A database which contains data that are considered the property of a particular

organization.

protocol A formalized set of conventions for establishing and maintaining contact between the communicating devices. Possible functions can include sign-on/sign-off procedures, error checking, and recovery.

35
quality indicator A quantitative or qualitative value which expresses an evaluation of the reliability

and validity of data. query language The commands which allow a user to ask questions of a database, such as "search,"

"combine," etc. This is a major part of the user interface.

raw data Property data from a given test not yet evaluated, analyzed, or combined with other test data. record A logical subdivision of a data file or database. A record contains all the data bits associated

with one entity in the file, reference data set A set of data that has been evaluated by experts and found to be accurate, reliable,

and of high quality.

report generator A computer program that can take files of numbers and textual material and produce

a printed version of text and table suitable for a report. Often associated with a database

management system.

scope definition The identification of the size and contents of a database.

software The step-by-step set of computer programs and documentation which function to control

the hardware elements in such a way as to perform a given task (see program ). standards In the context of this report, these are the procedures and rules to generate and report data. These are usually developed collectively by engineering groups.

statistical packages Software that can perform standard and nonstandard statistical analyses on a set of data. synthetic data These are the individual data points that are derived from use of curve fits and

interpolation schemes,

system See information system

telecommunications The electronic communication that ties the user and terminal, printer, and other

peripherals to the computer and to the databases to be searched,

translator In the context of database management, this is software that transforms one set of

commands into another.

tutorial programs Software that is designed to instruct a user about some subject. In the context of

a database management system, it often is used to explain the definition of data items or the possible use of the data.

units conversion The procedure whereby software will display a property value in whatever units are specified by the user. Often, the range of possibilities is quite limited. update An editing process by which data are corrected or added so that the database reflects current knowledge.

user friendly Computer system characterization—easy for a novice user: simple English instructions,

prompts, menus, etc., "fail-safe" programs, and special keys.

validated data See evaluated data

36
Appendix D

acronyms

AGARD Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development (operated by NATO)

AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

A TIT Air Atomic Industrial Forum

AlMfc, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers

A T C T AIM American Iron and Steel Institute American Nuclear Society

AMb A CTC American Society for Information Science

AbM A CAT American Society for Metals

ASMb American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Ab I M American Society for Testing and Materials

Aa \\;c Wb American Welding Society

CAD Computer-Aided Design

CAM Computer-Aided Manufacturing

CINDAS Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis

CODA 1

Committee on Data of the International Council of Scientific Unions

Data Base Management System

DOE Department of Energy

T1 TATTM1 A

/"~* hDtAL EPRI Database on Environmentally-Assisted Cracking

EPRI Electric Power Research Institute GNP Gross National Product

LWK Light Water Reactor

Mpr Mrt The Metal Properties Council, Inc. NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NBS National Bureau Of Standards

NBSIR National Bureau of Standards Internal Report

NDAB Numerical Data Advisory Board

NMPDN National Materials Property Data Network, Inc. NPV Nuclear Pressure Vessel

NRC National Research Council

NTIS National Technical Information Service

OSRD Office of Standard Reference Data (NBS)

PVRC Pressure Vessel Research Committee (MPC)

PVS Pressure Vessel Steels RPV Reactor Pressure Vessel

SAE Society of Automotive Engineers

UNS Unified Numbering System (U.S.)

37

NBS-114A (rev. 2-8Q

U.S. DEPT. OP COMM. i piiRi ICATION OR C iCI I U 1 I H 1 I 1 g \j 1 g ClI 1 r\ C^J U 1 I IN*-*. w^ • Piihlifatinn I U U 1 1 V«u HUM f~) 1—' ^CI LV BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

REPORT NO. January 1985 SHEET (See instructions; NBS/SP-689

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Computerizing Materials Data—A Workshop for the Nuclear Power Industry

5. AUTHOR(S)

John Rumble, Jr. and Jack H. Westbrook

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION (If joint or other than NBS, see instructions) 7. Contract/Grant No. National Bureau of Standards

Department of Commerce 8. Type of Report & Period Covered

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Final

9. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street, City. State, ZIP)

Office of Standard Reference Data

National Bureau of Standards

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

10. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 34-601161

J

Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FlPS Software Summary, is attached.

11. ABSTRACT ( A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant in formation . If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here)

This report summarizes the recommendations of a Workshop in Computerized

Materials Data as related to engineers in the Nuclear Power Industry. Four areas of discussion are featured: the content of a proposed data system;

its size and data sources; the user interfaces and system capabilities; and

ways of making further progress. In addition, changes in the use of materials

data in the Nuclear Power Industry and progress-to-date in computerizing these

data are presented.

12. KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by semicolons)

computerized data; computerized materials data; corrosion data; gateway systems;

materials data; materials selection; mechanical properties; national materials

property data system; nuclear industry; nuclear power; on-line systems

13. AVAILABILITY

|X] Unlimited

| | For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

(X_) Order From Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C

20402.

]] Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA. 22161

14. NO. OF

PRINTED PAGES

44

15. Price

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National Standard Reference Data Series—Provides quantitative data on the physical and chemical properties

of materials, compiled from the world's literature and critically evaluated. Developed under a worldwide pro- gram coordinated by NBS under the authority of the National Standard Data Act (Public Law 90-3%).

NOTE: The Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data (JPCRD) is published quarterly for NBS by

the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Subscriptions, reprints,

and supplements are available from ACS, 1155 Sixteenth St., NW, Washington, DC 20056.

Building Science Series—Disseminates technical information developed at the Bureau on building materials,

components, systems, and whole structures. The series presents research results, test methods, and perfor- mance criteria related to the structural and environmental functions and the durability and safety

characteristics of building elements and systems.

Technical Notes—Studies or reports which are complete in themselves but restrictive in their treatment of a

subject. Analogous to monographs but not so comprehensive in scope or definitive in treatment of the subject

area. Often serve as a vehicle for final reports of work performed at NBS under the sponsorship of other government agencies.

Voluntary Product Standards—Developed under procedures published by the Department of Commerce in Part 10, Title 15, of the Code of Federal Regulations. The standards establish nationally recognized re- quirements for products, and provide all concerned interests with a basis for common understanding of the

characteristics of the products. NBS administers this program as a supplement to the activities of the private

sector standardizing organizations.

Consumer Information Series—Practical information, based on NBS research and experience, covering areas of interest to the consumer. Easily understandable language and illustrations provide useful background

knowledge for shopping in today's technological marketplace.

Order the above NBS publications from: Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,

Washington, DC 20402. Order the following NBS publications—FIPS and NBSIR 's—from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FTPS PUB)—Publications in this series collectively constitute the Federal Information Processing Standards Register. The Register serves as the official source of

information in the Federal Government regarding standards issued by NBS pursuant to the Federal Property

and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended, Public Law 89-306 (79 Stat. 1127), and as implemented

by Executive Order 11717 (38 FR 12315, dated May 11, 1973) and Part 6 of Title 15 CFR (Code of Federal

Regulations).

NBS Interagency Reports (NBSIR)—A special series of interim or final reports on work performed by NBS

for outside sponsors (both government and non-government). In general, initial distribution is handled by the sponsor; public distribution is by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161, in paper copy or microfiche form.

NBS
U.S. Department of Commerce

National Bureau of Standards

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Official Business

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