Utilization of XML techniques is seen as a necessary step towards more powerful ways of incorporating semantics into data exchange used by heterogeneous systems. In this paper various techniques are studied and tried, such as XSL transformations (XSLT) and ways of extending the contents of XML Schemas, the final aim being in creating an understanding of the possibilities, and a roadmap that could possibly lead to some useful real-world applications. Based on a materials database an XML Schema is specified that defines the structure of an XML document capable of representing quite complex materials test data together with mandatory metadata. Some approaches are discussed and some of them implemented in prototypes to study the possibilities to comply with and use MatML in order to support sharing of experimentally measured materials data.

One of the JRC Petten tasks is to support European Research and Development (R&D)

No abstract

The development and verification of future GEN IV Reactor Systems is strongly related to materials data and correlated design codes. These systems are high temperature and/or corrosive media exposed. Expensive and extensive materials test programmes have to be launched because materials data which guarantee safe design does not yet exist for the selected materials. The costs of these extensive materials test programmes seem to be too high that they could be invested by one single GIF partner. Therefore a very important issue is data exchange between the partners to save costs and time. Within the web-enabled Mat-DB of JRC Petten an XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) related data entry part has been installed to ease exchange of experimental materials data. This XML structure will be presented in the following as an initiative to define an internationally agreed, standardised XML schema which can be integrated in the overall MatML schema. Furthermore integrated analysis routines are implemented in the Mat-DB data retrieval part. These tools allow extra- and interpolations to calculate strain limits which are the basis for calculating safety limits against creep failure. Those safety limits are necessary elements for establishing design codes of GEN IV Reactor Systems.

The available technique of a Web-enabled material database was adapted to a new Gasket Data Bank (Gasket-DB) in the frame of an European research project PERL (Pressure Equipment, Reduction of Leak rate: gasket parameters measurements). Main content are gasket characteristics determined on all gasket types defined in the new European gasket standard series EN 1514, part 1 to 7: • actual gasket parameters in ENV 1591-2 (public access), • proposed gasket parameters to define more reliable values (restricted access), • certified manufacturers gasket data (restricted access), • gasket parameter ranges (public access). Data retrieval is providing intelligent user guidance. Data entry is carried out by Joint Research Centre (JRC) Petten, NL, by means of standardized format (Excel file with different sheets, reflecting the table structure of the database). The prototype database and the user interface can easily be extended and customized to the needs and requirements of the engineering gasket society, e.g. link to customer documentation, databases, services like design calculation tools.