Re: Database design for scientific tests

[Al Lombardo]

First, in the initial_conditions table, this would be just a list of the initial conditions you want to track, so the value field belongs in the initial_test_conditions table.

In the test_data table, the test_data_type field could be a FK referencing a list of types of things you're tracking like temperature, pressure, luminosity.

Also it looks like you're tracking multiple temperatures which may be solved by adding a time field or counter as part of the key for each measurement. This allows multiple temperature entries for a test on a sample.

Hope this helps. These things always get more complicated as you progress...