scope:

This Handbook is primarily intended to provide a source of design mechanical and physical properties, and joint allowables. Material property and joint data obtained from tests by material and fastener producers, government agencies, and members of the airframe industry are submitted to MMPDS for review and analysis. Results of these analyses are submitted to the membership during semi-annual coordination meetings for approval and, when approved, published in this Handbook.

This Handbook also contains some useful basic formulas for structural element analysis. However, structural design and analysis are beyond the scope of this Handbook.

References for data and various test methods are listed at the end of each chapter. The reference number corresponds to the applicable paragraph of the chapter cited. Such references are intended to provide sources of additional information, but should not necessarily be considered as containing data suitable for design purposes.

Since many aerospace companies manufacture both commercial and military products, the standardization of matellic materials design data, which are acceptable to Government procuring or certification agencies is very beneficial to those manufacturers as well as governmental agencies. Although the design requirements for military and commercial products may differ greatly, the required design values for the strength of materials and elements and other needed material characteristics are often identical. Therefore, this publication provides standardized design values and related design information for metallic materials and structural elements used in aerospace structures. The data contained herein, or from approved items in the minutes of MMPDS coordination meetings, are acceptable to the FAA, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army. Approval by the procuring or certificating agency must be obtained for the use of design values for products not contained herein.