Scope and Context

Following the need for model calibrations for current and future fib’s Model Codes, as well as other international standards, there is an international necessity to agree on representative test data and to provide it in Open Access as findable, accessible, interoperable and reproducible (FAIR). These data, independently validated and organized in the form of databases can be used in a transparent manner by multiple teams of researchers.

To date, numerous databases exist on different topics, such as shear, bond, shrinkage and creep. These existing databases are, however, mostly offline and static, and do not allow simple and simultaneous access, preventing their collaborative use. In addition, multiple instances exist on a single topic (with potentially different interpretations of the same test data).

Since February 2021, the fib is working on establishing a number of harmonized databases, with the following objectives:

• To create a fib database with a common data structure, that can be used for different types of tests
• To have easy (automated) import of data from existing databases
• A common data structure allowing for data mining across task groups, generating potentially useful data for other purposes
• To provide access to the sources of the data
• To have commonly-agreed databases by the scientific community, useful for code calibration
• To provide continuity and preserve the efforts of fib’s task groups and their members, merging efforts from a global community of researchers
• To have the results publicly and freely available under Open Access and FAIR principles
• To produce scientific publications
• Data will be collected by stable groups and not by individuals, making data collections more transparent but also persistent

Databases are projects developed for a long period of time by many researchers. The work of some researchers is to include new test data in the database, while others check if the tests are relevant and have been properly developed. The databases are a project of the research community. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge all the participants for the work they have done in the long process of developing the databases. In the fib, we have done our best to recognise each person for the work done in each database. If any person or organisation thinks that further acknowledgements should be given to other persons, please contact the fib Secretariat or the editor of the relevant database so their request can be considered.