Graphical user interface for a material test information system

Introduction

Within the Structural MAterials expert group (SMA) many mechanical and corrosion tests are required for material characterization.  The information that these tests yield needs to be stored, analyzed and be available in a user friendly way for current and future users of the material test information.

Hitherto, we are setting up a graphical user interface (GUI) called TIMARS (Test Information Management Analysis and Reporting System).  TIMARS needs to have scripts to e.g. store new test results properly, analyze previous and current test result, make overviews, export data to external database formats.  The system needs to cater for various test types (e.g. fatigue life and tensile testing) and various processes (e.g. metadata creation, overview reporting).

We like to trust the further design of a proper, modern system interface to a student in information technology as a practical work.  The GUI must be developed in Visual Studio and needs to be able to run scripts in codes like R and Python, because many of our staff are writing the underlying scripts in those codes.  The GUI and data treatment must be strictly separated so that modifications to the former do not affect data treatment routines. 

Objectives

• To produce a working and user-friendly GUI to our material test information.

• To ensure the coding is extensively commented within the code.

• To extensively test the produced GUI.

• To write a technical manual of the GUI (for developers to create future versions).

• To write a user manual for the GUI (for users).

• To write an internship report or thesis with lessons learned.

Additional info

• Major scripts for mechanical and corrosion test information are available and do not need to be programmed by the student.  It is the intention that the student will only integrate them in an overall GUI (which might require some adaptation though).

• The assignment has been worded in English as most of the staff and PhD students that wrote the scripts are foreign.

Keywords

GUI, Visual Studio, R, Python, Material test information system

Profile student

• Necessary experience: Graphical user interface design and coding, Visual Studio, Python/Tkinter.

• Advantage: Knowledge of R.