Overview

The Working Group “Metadata in Nanoindentation and Micromechanics” focuses on advancing the understanding of microstructure–property relationships in metals, ceramics, and polymers through small-scale mechanical testing. Techniques such as nanoindentation, microcompression, and in situ experiments (e.g., SEM/TEM-based) allow precise probing of elastic, plastic, and fracture behavior at the micro- and nanoscale. By integrating microstructural characterization—such as EBSD, TEM, or APT—with high-throughput mechanical testing, we aim to establish robust correlations between local structure and mechanical response. The group brings together experts working with diverse materials and instrumentation to develop standardized metadata protocols and analysis frameworks that ensure interoperability, reproducibility, and scalability. A particular focus lies in harmonizing data formats and workflows across techniques, enabling efficient data sharing and paving the way for advanced analytics and machine learning approaches in micromechanics. 

Acronym:NanoData
Website: 
Contact:Prof. Dr. Ruth Schwaiger, FZ Jülich GmbH; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten Durst, TU Darmstadt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wenwen Song, Universität Kassel, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Benoit Merle, Universität Kassel
DFG Classification:4.31-03 - Coating and Surface Technology
4.31-04 - Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials and their Microstructural Origins 
4.31-05 - Glass, Ceramics and Derived Composites
Material/ Methodology:Nanoindentation raw data and analysis / Experiments
Engagement:Four scientific research groups will contribute data and analysis input, and implement / test developments of the initiative 

Related Use Cases

All Participant Projects

  • PP20 Materials-open-Laboratory
  • PP21 FAIR Grain Boundaries
  • PP22 Engineered Living Materials with Adaptive Functions
  • PP23 Multiscale analysis and inverse design of uncertain meso-structures
  • PP24 AI-based data collection and optimisation of additive manufacturing process parameters for titanium-based materials
  • PP25 Data-driven alloy and microstructure design of sustainable structural metals
  • PP26 Atomic-scale understanding and design of multifunctional compositionally complex solid solution surfaces
  • PP27 O(A)pportunities for your Publications
  • PP28 BioAntiFatigue
  • PP29 Applying Interoperable Metadata Standards

NFDI-MatWerk
Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under the National Research Data Infrastructure – NFDI 38/1 – project number 460247524.

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