Abstract: A system, method and software product for defining material properties hierarchically in a finite element analysis of a structure is disclosed. As a material type is created, the type is checked whether it is a root material type. If so, all of the material properties are defined explicitly in the current definition. Otherwise, the parent material type is searched and located first until the traversing finds a root definition. All of the material properties of the parent material type(s) found are read in and stored as the base properties of the material to be created. The material properties explicitly defined in the current definition of the material will either overwrite or add to the base properties. The material properties definition resembles a hierarchical tree: each of the material properties type has a parent material except the root material type which is on the top of the tree.