MMPDS Framework for Characterization and 

Use of Additive Metals

Empowering Small and Medium Size Enterprises Through Effective Additive 

Manufacturing Data Management

June 8, 2023

Doug Hall

Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Program Manager – MMPDS

Battelle Memorial Institute

614-424-6490

halld@battelle.org
History

• ANC5 (1937-1954), MIL-HDBK-5 (USAF: 1954 – 2003), MMPDS (FAA: 2003-today) • Battelle Memorial Institute - program Secretariat since 1956. • MMPDS Handbook is the primary source of statistically-based design allowable 

properties for metallic materials and fasteners used in many different commercial and 

military weapon systems around the world. • The MMPDS General Coordinating Committee is a collaboration between government 

agencies, aerospace companies, testing and data service companies, and metallic 

material producers. • Biannual meetings to review and approve statistical analyses and guidelines.

Scope

• The Handbook currently contains 600+ A/B-Basis and 1000+ S-Basis entries, 400+ 

unique metal specifications. • Two to five new alloys are added each year.†

• For more information visit www.mmpds.org

† Pandemic rate has been slower.

Metallic Materials Properties Development and 

Standardization

2
MIL-HDBK-5 to MMPDS to Volume II

3

2024
Material Producers

Collaboration

Secretariat

Government

Material Users

Alloy Development Alloy Maturity

Initial Database 

Generated by 

Material Producer

Aircraft & 

Spacecraft Designer 

Buy-in

Public Specification 

Drafted & Circulated 

for Approval

Database Generated 

by Material Producer 

and User

Database Delivered 

to Secretariat

Government & 

Industrial Steering 

Group Oversight & 

Support

Statistical Analysis of 

Database

Prepare Data 

Proposal for Meeting 

Agenda

Publication of 

Meeting Minutes

Revision to 

Handbook and 

Change Notices

Committee Review 

and Approval of 

Allowables

Commercial 

Distribution of 

Handbook

Develop Proposed 

Design

Government Review 

and Acceptance of 

Design

Part Manufacture Part in 

Service

Sufficient 

Data?

Meet 

HDBK 

Req's?

No

Yes

Yes

No Handbook Process

MMPDS Review & Approval DRAFT

End-users may need to provide additional information to meet certification 

or qualification requirements of relevant regulators. Chapter 10 will outline 

a path to develop Design Values from the published Material Allowables.

Process to publish values

in Volume I.

Once a Material Allowable

is published, the user must

consider relevant influence

factors to develop a Design

Value.

Process to publish values

in Volume I.

Once a Material Allowable

is published, the user must

consider relevant influence

factors to develop a Design

Value.

Process to publish values

in Volume II.

Once a Material Allowable

is published, the user must

consider relevant influence

factors to develop a Design

Value.
Conventional Material • Four major aluminum 

producers, making plate & 

sheet in six separate 

factories • All producers of 7075-T6 

per AMS4045 are not 

making identical material
9.2.2 Specification Requirements

• A material “. . . must be covered by a public, industry, or government 

specification that includes sufficient quality controls to ensure stable statistically 

valid mechanical properties. These controls shall include, but are not limit to, 

lot-release acceptance criteria for composition limits and mechanical 

properties, control of thermal-mechanical processing, sampling, and testing 

methodologies, and internal soundness/quality.”

• “Test data meeting or exceeding requirements for S-Basis or better statistically 

based mechanical properties for properties included in the specification for lotrelease shall be submitted to the MMPDS Secretariat for analysis.”

• Additional requirements for Material Properties (9.2.2.1), Manufacturing and/or 

Processing (9.2.2.2), Feedstock (9.2.2.3), Recycling (9.2.2.4), Machine 

Qualification (9.2.2.5), Product Lot-Release Data (9.2.2.6)
Table 9.2.4 (1 of 3)
Table 9.2.4 (2 of 3)
Table 9.2.4 (3 of 3)
Volume II C-Basis, D-Basis, S-Basis: Material Allowables

T99 and T90 are one-sided lower tolerance 

bounds. Both are calculated from data.

C-Basis = the lower of the specification 

minimum or T99 value.

D-Basis = is the T90. It is not related to the 

spec minimum.

S-Basis = is a T99 that does not meet CBasis requirements for sample size or 

distribution fit.

Metallic C-/D-/S-Basis published in 

MMPDS Volume II require “further 

showing.” A large sample is required.

MMPDS is the primary gov’t approved

source for A/B/C/D/S-Basis metallic

material allowables. Proprietary values

require extra effort by the CEO.
800.201.2011 | solutions@battelle.org | www.battelle.org