Materials Library

Overview

The materials library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference, borrowing, or using. It provides physical or digital access to materials and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both

Description

The materials library is based on four components. These are the materials database & virtual laboratory, experimental laboratory, materials showcase, and materials shop.

Virtual Laboratory: It is an interactive environment for creating and conducting simulated experiments. In other words, through the VL there is a possibility to test materials in a virtual way. This resource will allow users to observe their projects using specific materials, in a virtual space, allowing multiple materials to be applied and tested quickly through the help of various computer software.

Experimental Laboratory: It is a space for utilizing the data and materials within the library to design and prototype real-world applications. This space should be equipped with the most recent testing equipment and numerous experiments can be designed to test materials or products to evaluate their characteristics under different conditions.

Materials Display: It is a collection of some of the most wondrous materials, gathered from sheds, labs, grottoes, and repositories. The materials showcase is also a physical sample database of innovative materials and processes, from across all disciplines of design and engineering. It is an indispensable asset to a wide audience of users, providing them with important information about materials, an excellent tool for increasing the creativity of the designer of tomorrow with real materials of today. The materials showcase library can be mobile, allowing for students, researchers and designers to benefit from this resource.

Materials Shop: The material shop is a space where we can find all the tools that are needed to make functional or volumetric prototypes. Prototyping foam, wood, plywood, acrylic sheet, aluminum sheet, screws, nails, glue, etc. are some of the basic materials that a student, a faculty and a researcher needs to build prototypes.

Database Library: It is a database used to store experimental, computational, standards and design data of materials in such a way that users can utilize them efficiently. The data base library will be accessible to all the faculty, students and researchers for educational and research purposes. The information in the database can be organized in various ways, allowing the user to easily navigate through the data and search by family types, properties, etc.

Objectives

Build a facility to host the UAEU Materials Library and provide the building with needed infrastructure.
Acquire state-of-the art software, materials, and equipment.
Recruit skilled personnel to run the lab and train others on using resources safely and professionally.
The virtual library fits with the university strategy to develop online teaching.
Attract a sizable number of students, designers and researchers to use the resources and services available in the lab.
Provide various training courses and workshops on materials selection and software to prepare experiments, measurements, provide materials information and properties. Indeed, it will save time and reduce costs.
Link the Materials library with national agenda and governmental initiatives through providing services and support to designers and researchers using different materials in their projects.