Modeling in a materials data base

The way to describe materials properties and their performances in a materials data base depends mainly on the needs for materials information. Constituent files can be classified into four levels from the information source level (source data file) to practical application level (performance data file). In developing a materials data base, we are first trying to represent available information in a computer readable form just as it is published. Materials selection and materials design require the restructuring and standardization of relevant files, sometimes based on different data models, from the static source level to the dynamic performance level. In this paper a strategy to bridge the source data file and the performance data file is discussed. (orig.)