How to create a custom material

NextGen offers the ability to create custom materials to expand those already shipped with the program. This function can be useful in the following cases:

  • You're using a european code (EN 13445, AD 2000, VSR, EN 13480, etc.) and need a material not listed in the database or a material with a PMA (Particular Material Appreisal)
  • You need to impose a certified MDMT
  • You need to set allowable stress, tensile or yield strength, elasticity or thermal expansion group to a material where ASME II Part D doesn't provide these values
  • You need a material not in ASME II Part D

This feature is available in ASME VIII Division 1, Division 2 and EN 13445. Windows may differ from code to code but the underlying process stays the same.

Custom material creation

Select "Database" from a component editing window to fire up the materials list. Select a base material to start with, similar to the one you're creating, then press "Copy to custom materials".

Press the "Edit" material in the following window to modify the newly created material. Customize this material at your wish (in the example, name and MDMT are changed). When done, click "Save". Close the window and accept any change.

PLEASE NOTE: when you're inserting a value, provide its unit. For example, when inserting a pressure type in "100 MPa".

Your custom material is now saved and ready to be used. Custom materials are highlighted in yellow in the list. Further modifications to the material can be done by selecting it and pressing the "Edit" button.


Author: Matteo Bagattini
Permalink: KB830586
Published on: 13 Feb 2015