The Patran Materials provides the Patran analyst with materials data from MSC Mvision Materials Databases. The MSC Mvision Materials Software System was created by MSc.Software Corporation (MSC) for materials selection, visualization, and data integration. The Patran Materials integrates Patran and MSC Mvision to quickly and accurately provide the analyst with up-to-date, traceable materials data.

Most important to the analyst, several commercial MSC Mvision databases are available. There are Standards Databanks of U.S. Government provided data; MIL-HDBK-5 (metals), MIL-HDBK-17 (composites), and PMC90 (advanced composites) and the Producers Databanks for Plastics, Metals, Ceramics, and Composites. The Standards Databanks are electronic renditions of standard, independently evaluated materials property data sources that are appropriate for all phases of analysis. The Producers Databanks are comprehensive electronic libraries of materials data from materials producers worldwide that are appropriate for initial conceptual analysis.

MSC.Software maintains these databases and plans to release additional databases in the near future. In addition, using the MSC Mvision Materials System Builder, engineers can capture, organize and reduce materials test data to create their own MSC Mvision materials property databases for design and analysis.

Materials information plays an important part in Patran engineering simulations. The material properties used in mechanical and thermal applications directly affect the accuracy of the solution. The Patran Materials provides Patran users with a reliable and accurate source of materials information using the MSC Mvision Materials Database System.