CMH-17 brings the latest test data and proven engineering guidance together in a six-volume reference tool.Composite materials are only as reliable as the data behind them. The Composite Materials Handbook, CMH-17, gives you that data, along with the guidance to put it to work.Produced by Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research, CMH-17 is a six-volume engineering reference with more than 1,000 records of the latest test data for polymer matrix, metal matrix, ceramic matrix, and structural sandwich composites. Every property listed meets specific data requirements, so you can build on numbers you can trust. CMH-17 also covers the work around the data. Its guidelines span design, analysis, material selection, manufacturing, quality control, and repair, giving your team the information it needs to design and fabricate end items from composite materials.At its core, CMH-17 standardizes how composite property data is tested, reduced and reported. That consistency helps your team compare materials with confidence and stay aligned as new composites emerge.
What's inside:
- Six volumes of engineering guidance
- 1,000+ records of current test data
- Coverage of polymer matrix, metal matrix, ceramic matrix, and structural sandwich composites
- Guidelines for design, analysis, material selection, manufacturing, quality control, and repair
- Standardized methods for testing, data reduction, and reporting
Vol. 1 Polymer Matrix Composites: Guidelines for Characterization of Structural Materials, Release H, September 2022 (R-540)The first volume of this six-volume compendium contains guidelines for determining the properties of polymer matrix composite material systems and their constituents, as well as the properties of generic structural elements, including test planning, test matrices, sampling, conidtioning, test procedure selection, data reporting, data reduction, statistical analysis, and other related topics. Special attention is given to the statistical treatment and analysis of data. Volume 1 contains guidelines for general development of material characterization data as well as specific requirements for publication of material data in CMH-17. The primary purpose of this volume of the handbook is to document industry best-practices for engineering methodologies related to testing, data reduction, and reporting of property data for current and emerging composite materials. It is used by engineers worldwide in designing and fabricating products made from composite materials. Data obtained and selected according to Volume 1 is published in Volume 2. The current version is the H release.Buy NowVol. 2 Polymer Matrix Composites: Material Properties, Release H, July 2018 (R-484)An updated revision ("Rev. H") of the second volume of the CMH-17 compendium contains statistically based data for polymer matrix composites that meets specific CMH-17 population sampling and data documentation requirements, covering material systems of general interest. Selected historical data from previous versions of the handbook that do not meet current data sampling, test methodology, or documentation requirements, but are still of potential interest to industry are also included in this volume.Seventeen new data sets with complete documentation and publicly available specifications were added in the new Revision H of the Composites Materials Handbook, Vol.2. The new data sets include carbon fiber and glass fiber composites. There is also a Volume 2 Annex which segregates data for which export control restrictions apply. The current version is the H release.Buy Now
Vol. 3 Polymer Matrix Composites: Materials Usage, Design and Analysis, Release H, October 2025 (R-640)The third volume of this six-volume compendium provides methodologies and lessons learned for the design, analysis, manufacture, and field support of fiber-reinforced, polymeric-matrix composite structures. It also provides guidance on material and process specifications and procedures for using the data that is presented in Volume 2. The information provided is consistent with the guidance provided in Volume 1, and is an extensive compilation of the current knowledge and experiences of engineers and scientists from industry, government, and academia who are active in composites. The current version is the H release.Buy Now
Vol. 4 Metal Matrix Composites, Revision B, August 2013 (R-425) The fourth volume of this six-volume compendium includes properties on metal matrix composite material systems for which data meeting the specific requirements of the handbook are available. In addition, it provides selected guidance on other technical topics related to this class of composites, including material selection, material specification, processing, characterization testing, data reduction, design, analysis, quality control, and repair of typical metal matrix composite materials. The internal structure of the handbook follows the Vol. 1-3 structure of the PMC handbook. The current version is the B release.Buy NowVol. 5 Ceramic Matrix Composites, Revision B August 2026 (R-460) Volume 5 is the ceramic matrix handbook. The new version being released is the B release. The fifth volume publishes technical guidance and properties on ceramic matrix composite material systems. The selected guidance on technical topics related to this class of composites includes material selection, processing, characterization, testing, data reduction, design, analysis, quality control, application, case histories, and lessons learned of typical ceramic matrix composite materials. The new revision includes expanded coverage of environmental barrier coatings, addressing performance and durability considerations for CMC systems. The revision also includes a new chapter dedicated to engine applications of CMCs and the first CMC data set to be included in CMH-17: oxide-oxideBuy Now
Vol. 6 Structural Sandwich Composites, Initial Release, August 2013 (R-427)Volume 6 is an update to the cancelled Military Handbook 23, which was prepared for use in the design of structural sandwich polymer composites, primarily for flight vehicles. The information presented includes test methods, material properties, design and analysis techniques, fabrication methods, quality control and inspection procedures, and repair techniques for sandwich structures in military and commercial vehicles. The 1st release is available.Buy Now
Volume 7 is a brand-new volume planned to be released in 2027.These volumes are available for individuals to purchase through the links above. For institutional access, please complete this form and someone from our sales team will reach out to discuss options for your team.
CMH17 in the news
SAE International Publishes Major New Revision of CMH-17 Volume 3 on Polymer Matrix Compositeshttps://www.sae.org/articles/press-releases/2025/11/cmh-17-volume-3
Composite Materials Handbook Announces Major Update to Volume 5, Expanding Critical Guidance and Data for Ceramic Matrix Compositeshttps://www.sae.org/articles/press-releases/2026/08/sae-cmh-17
SAE International Publishes Major New Revision of CMH-17 Volume 3 on Polymer Matrix Compositeshttps://www.sae.org/articles/press-releases/2025/11/cmh-17-volume-3