Researchers Develop Common Modeling Language

A team of researchers at Access, a research center at the Technical University of Aachen, has developed a “common language” for modeling and simulation tools for studying the microstructures of materials.

The team, which provides software tools for microstructure simulations, identified the needs and benefits of seamless communication with a variety of computational tools. They developed a set of “metadata descriptors” to describe the three-dimensional microstructure of any generic material. Their method was published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials.

“Similar to the jpeg (joint photographers expert group) format [for exchanging digital pictures], the group looked for a data scheme allowing the future exchange of complex simulation data as easily as digital pictures are exchanged nowadays,” says Georg Schmitz, senior scientist at Access. “This provides a flavor of what can become possible in the area of materials science and engineering: faster developments of new processes and new materials, of processes and materials having a smaller ecological footprint, and of new materials with new functionalities for new or better products,” he says.

For more information, visit Access.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.