Materials Selection Analysis – a critical step in any capital project application

One of One Eighty’s specialist services as consulting metallurgical and materials engineers and scientists is Materials Selection Analysis.

Materials selection is a critical step in any capital project application – whether this is the designing and building of a new component or part of a construction (such as a pressure vessel or heat exchanger) of or the sourcing of an alternate material that is available locally. The failure of projects or structures due to the incorrect choice of materials is common in many industries and can be easily prevented by consulting with an accredited metallurgist or materials engineer such as One Eighty on the correct use of materials. Project engineers must plan for all consequences resulting in the long-term use of the materials in question, under all potential conditions that those materials may be exposed to. This gives the project the best chance of success, minimises costs while meeting all performance requirements and objectives, mitigates any risk, and protects the investment of the project.

Materials selection can be explained as the scientific and expert process by which a material engineer systematically identifies the most appropiate materials for a project and also eliminates the materials which are not suitable.

Materials selection is critical in all industries but is particularly important in demanding environments such as the oil and gas industry, the mining sector and in the defence industry.

There are a number if factors that One Eighty will take into consideration in the Materials Selection Analysis process, namely:

• Materials cost
• Materials availability and manufacturability
• Environmental impact of materials/sustainability
• Mechanical attributes and forces
• Wear and tear
• Thermal properties
• Chemical properties
• Physical Properties

An example of some of the mechanical properties that One Eighty, as accredited metallurgists and materials engineering concern: will look at, are:

• Tensile strength
• Impact strength
• Yield strength
• Flexibility
• Fatigue limit
• Ductility
• Compressive strength
• Shear strength
• Ease of fracture
• Resilience
• Friction coefficient
• Fatigue limit

It is important to note, that these factors need to be considered, graphed and analyzed by an experienced, qualified and accredited metallurgist or materials engineer/scientist who has a deep understanding of the factors affecting the choice of materials for the project.

Why is material selection analysis so important?

• Failure to have a metallurgist or materials engineer consult on materials selection results in exposure to risk elements prevailing in the industry. Risk is mitigated through a thorough materials selection analysis process.
• The best materials for design, performance and durability as well as functionality can be chosen.
• The most cost effective material can be chosen.
• The investment of the capital project is protected.
• The performance of the product under all conditions is guaranteed.

One Eighty uses Cambridge Engineering Selector software in our materials selection analysis. It is very important that the graphs that this software produces are analysed and interpreted by a qualified and experienced metallurgist/materials engineer.

Two examples of the graphs that we refer to and interpret are below:

To find out more about One Eighty’s Materials Selection Analysis Service, contact Dr Janet Cotton on janet@one-eighty-degrees.com