Entity-Relationship Modeling of Composite Materials Data

Abstract

Material properties data, particularly that of advanced composite materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics, provides a complex domain which is difficult to computerize. To aid in this process, a formal conceptual data model was designed. The contribution of this model is that it encompasses the data needs of civil and structural engineers throughout the life cycle of a composite material component. The data model was created using the entity-relationship methodology, and can be used to support automated data exchange and database development. Other issues addressed in this paper include assessing the suitability of the entity-relationship model for composite materials data, assessing and maintaining the quality of a data set, and modeling special types of data applicable to composite materials.