Statistics in Material Science and Technology
by
Hina Amol Gokhale
Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, India

Statistical approaches have been used for many years in various fields concerning material science and technology. The techniques applied include from simple t-test to study the homogeneity of the materials to complex design of experiments to learn the effect of numerous factors in coating or welding experiments, and from techniques of life-time data analysis to study mechanical behaviour of materials to fractals and stochastic geometry to study microstructures of materials. And yet there are other fields still waiting to be explored statistically. The present paper provides an overview of these and other statistical applications in material science and technology, along with new possibilities for applications.

Date received: December 2, 2002