Motivation

The mechanical properties determined using various testing methods (e.g., tensile and fatigue testing, cyclic and static indentation), microstructural features (e.g., grain size, phase content), and physical properties (e.g., electrical conductivity, magnetic permeability) offer significant potential for exploring correlations in materials datasets. Data visualization and analysis are essential to uncover these correlations.

A major challenge in leveraging this potential is the lack of accessible, low-threshold concepts for research data management strategies based on Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) (in collaboration with TA-WLE), as well as the application of appropriate metadata schemas based on established ontologies (in collaboration with TA-SAI).

IUC08 addresses these challenges by developing best-practice concepts to support the transition from traditional paper-based lab notebooks to ELNs.

Overview

Main requirements:
- Uniform (Meta)data formats to enable utilization of heterogeneous data obtained from different test devices
- Metadata scheme to ensure comparable information for different test methods
- Standardized units to facilitate data transformation
- Electronic lab book for uniform data documentation and management
- Integration of measurement devices to simplify utilization of different test devices
- Visualization tools for interactive correlation analysis
Main Task Area: TA-WLE
Other related Task Areas: TA-CI, TA-SAI
Possible connections within NFDI: FAIRmat
Material/Data
- Microstructure of metallic alloys
- Mechanical and physical properties of metallic alloys
- Metadata (material history and testing methods) of metallic alloys
Main Success Scenario Broad implementation of fully digital, FAIR data handling in daily lab work using ELNs, associated, e.g., Python-based evaluation / visualization tools and appropriate data schemas. 
Added value for the MatWerk community: Fostering low-level-entry concepts for digitization of lab work on a “low entry level”

Exemplary Case Studies

  • DFG Priority Programme (SPP) 2489 “DaMic” (via PP16): Investigation of correlations between cyclic indentation testing data and cyclic deformation or lifetime from conventional fatigue tests, considering microstructural features.
    Goal: Increase the reliability of cyclic indentation as a high-throughput method for assessing fatigue strength, supporting alloy development within SPP 2489.
  • DFG CRC/TRR 375 “HyPo” (via PP16): Case studies on parameter and alloy optimization for additively manufactured, functionally graded materials, addressing specific challenges of CRC/TRR 375.
  • TA-CI: Development and dissemination of low-threshold concepts for the use of Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs), ensuring broader adoption within the community.

Goals

  • Establish low-threshold concepts for digitizing lab work through Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs), enabling broader adoption in the materials science community.
  • Enable correlation analysis across mechanical, physical, and microstructural data through harmonized data formats and shared metadata schemes.
  • Provide tools and workflows that integrate measurement devices and support FAIR-compliant documentation in ELNs.
  • Facilitate data visualization and Python-based analysis to explore relationships between different test methods.
  • Support alloy development and process optimization through case studies, using ELN-based data workflows and structured metadata.

Related Participant Projects

All Infrastructure Use Cases

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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