In finite element analysis (FEA), the accuracy of your simulation is only as good as the input data - particularly the material properties. In safety-critical applications such as aerospace, defense, and automotive, using nominal or average material properties is not enough. These values don’t account for natural variability in material behavior or meet the strict requirements for certification and safety. Instead, engineers must rely on design allowable material properties - values derived from extensive testing that account for statistical variability and provide a high level of confidence that a material will perform as expected in the field.
This is where the Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (MMPDS) database becomes essential. And when accessed through the Altair® Material Data Center™ (AMDC), this powerful data resource becomes seamlessly available within your simulation workflows.
MMPDS Data in Altair® Material Data Center™
The MMPDS is a comprehensive, government-recognized, industry-supported database of statistically-based material property data for aerospace alloys. Formerly known as MIL-HDBK-5, MMPDS is maintained by a consortium of government agencies and industry experts, ensuring its relevance and reliability. The Altair® Material Data Center™ integrates MMPDS-sourced material data directly into your simulation environment. Engineers can search for materials by specification (e.g., AMS, SAE, or ASTM), filter by mechanical properties, and export this data into solver-ready material cards.
Key Features of MMPDS:
- Provides design-allowable values such as A- and B-basis values.
- Covers a wide range of aerospace-grade metallic materials (aluminium, steel, titanium, etc.).
- Includes data derived from validated and standardized test programs.
- Supports material traceability, substitution, and certification in regulated industries
Benefits of using MMPDS data through AMDC in FEA analysis:
- Statistically validated material properties improve the realism and accuracy of FEA models.
- Compliance with FAA, DoD, MIL, OEM, and automotive standards is simplified.
- Solver-ready exports eliminate manual errors and reduce model setup time.
- Material traceability supports certification workflows and auditability.
- Cross-functional collaboration is enhanced with reusable, consistent material definitions.
With direct access to MMPDS data in AMDC, simulation engineers can design with confidence - knowing their materials reflect real-world variability, not just idealized values. MMPDS is widely used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, and transportation sectors for certification, simulation, and design optimization.
Video Tutorial Overview
In the accompanying video tutorial, we walk through a practical workflow that demonstrates how to:
- Search for a Steel material in the MMPDS database using its AMS specification (e.g., SAE 6280).
- Export material data into non-linear models such as MATS1, LAW36, or MAT24, ready for use in your FEA solver.
- Share the material data as a reusable, traceable asset across teams, projects, or enterprise systems.
Watch the video for a step-by-step guide on how to access, export, and share these properties with ease -
This workflow helps bridge the gap between material databases and simulation tools, ensuring your engineering decisions are based on certified, traceable data. Whether you're modeling the skin of an aircraft fuselage, optimizing a lightweight aerospace structure or validating a load path in a critical assembly, using MMPDS data via the Altair® Material Data Center™ in your simulations helps ensure compliance, traceability, and engineering confidence.
Access MMPDS data in Altair® Material Data Center™:
https://materials.altairone.com/
Join the Conversation
Have questions about integrating MMPDS data into your simulation workflow? Want to share how your organization uses Altair® Material Data Center™ for certification-driven analysis? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
