Analysis of the properties and functions of metal components

Abstract

The properties of a metal component are analyzed and classified. It is established that the structure of the properties of some object may be described in terms of the determination of functions at different levels. The properties of metal components are analyzed and, on that basis, the concept of a function is defined. The concept of a component’s useful phase is introduced on the basis of the functional principle of property analysis. A design definition of the quality of metal products is proposed: the quality is the degree of fulfillment of three functions—transportation, installation, and operation. The methods of quality analysis based on investigation of the functions of the product over the duration of its useful phase also constitute the essence of functional–goal analysis. On the basis of this approach, the algorithm for quantitative quality assessment is improved. In the proposed approach, the stages of the life cycle are specified; the functions are arranged in a multilevel structure; and a single material body is regarded as a system of properties that will be differently expressed, depending on the purpose for which it is employed. Accordingly, functional–target analysis may be regarded as a new approach to studying the structure of the functions and properties of a metal component.