Universal technique for information and digital analysis of steel and alloy structures using MATLAB

There are a large number of computer programs that allow you to automate computational and graphical operations for processing arrays of data and images. The foundations of these areas are very promising in the practice of solving problems of materials science, namely in metallography, based on the analysis of images of structures of metals and alloys. The standards describe various techniques, but they are all performed and calculated manually by the operator. There is no single universal automated method for quality control of metal structures. The authors of the work have developed a methodology that allows for the study (measurement and analysis) of microstructure images of steels and alloys using classical widespread software. For these purposes, MATLAB software was selected, which was adapted to solve metallographic problems described in special GOST standards for quality control of metals by structure (ASTM E45-18a, DIN EN 10247:2017-09; GOST: 5639-82; 1778-70; 54570-2011; 21073-75; R ISO 643-2015). The paper describes:•obtaining an adequate and objective image of the structure in digital form;•an information-digital method for measuring informative elements of the structure responsible for the mechanical properties and quality of the material as a whole.