The Patran Materials provides a simple and easy to use interface for access to MSC Mvision materials databases. Patran Materials is integrated into the Materials function as a Method option. Choosing Materials Selector as the method of creating a Patran material activates the selection process.

The process of reading an MSC Mvision database begins by selection of a specific database. Database are stored in the Patran directory structure when Patran is installed. Selecting a database name opens the database and presents the materials in a spreadsheet-like display. Selection of materials is simply a matter of scanning the list for an appropriate material and picking it from the list.

When a material is selected from a database, the key material properties are transferred directly to the Patran database. The source and background information of the material is also stored in the Patran database. This maintains a traceable link between the material selected and the material properties used in the Patran model.

The key to the interface is a special template file which provides an initial mapping of the MSC Mvision database to the Patran Materials properties. Each database provided by MSC is shipped with a set of matching template files that map the material attributes in the database to specific Patran material properties. A separate template file is required to map each database to a specific Patran material type, since each material type requires different material properties.

Database query tools within Patran Materials allow the user to search the database for materials that match specific design criteria. These specialized lists of materials can be recalled by creating new template files containing the user database criteria. In addition Patran Materials can view any MSC Mvision database including those created by the customer using the MSC Mvision Materials System Builder.