Exercise 7: Selection using a Chart Stage

Use the Index line and Box selection tools to select materials based on their attribute values.

When plotted on a Chart, records can also be filtered using the Index line and Box selection tools.

  1. Create a bar chart of Yield strength (σy)
    1. Set the Y-axis to Yield strength (elastic limit).
  2. Use a Box selection to identify materials with high values of Yield strength
    1. Click Box selection , then drag to define the selection box.
  3. Add Density (ρ) to the X-axis
    1. Click Chart Settings , then go to the X-Axis tab and select Density as the X-axis attribute. You can also double-click the chart axis to open the dialog.
  4. Use an Index line to identify materials with high values of specific strength, σy / ρ
    1. Click Index and display lines .
    2. Use the default Slope value of 1.
    3. The objective of the line is set to Maximize the index by default, which will result in selection of materials above the line, for high values of σy / ρ.
    4. Click OK, then click the chart to position the line through a particular point.
    5. Drag the line upwards to refine the selection to fewer materials.
  5. Add a Box selection to the chart to identify materials with low Density that maximize the index.
  6. Rank the Results list by specific strength (Yield strength / Density)

    Show: Stage 1: Yield strength v. Density

    Rank by: Stage 1: Index value.

    Example results: Bamboo, Cork, Rigid Polymer Foam (MD).
  7. Delete this stage
    1. Select the stage in the Selection Stages list and press DELETE.