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Engineering Materials, Etc. (Fall 2010)

Course code : XMSM-U1
ECTS Credits : 7,5 Status : Compulsory
Revised : 21/01 2010 Written : 10/08 2007
Placement : 3. semester Hours per week : 8
Length : 1 semester Teaching Language : Danish and English

Objective : Engineering Materials:
To obtain an understanding of the connection between the function of structures, their geometrical shape and the choice of material. The course treats elements of mechanics of materials and the participants will learn to analyze stiffness and strength of simple structures and their subcomponents, including the influence of material properties. Exercises include the formulation of simple idealized mathematical/physical models. Furthermore, the students will obtain knowledge of the composition and properties of materials and will be able to select materials for simple structures.

A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
• Identify the main classes of materials and recognize principal types of bonding for different materials classes.
• Recognize crystal types, unit cells and crystal lattices in metals and simple ceramics.
• Differentiate between elastic, plastic and viscoelastic behaviour of metals, ceramics and polymers and classify deformation and strengthening mechanisms and processes in materials.
• Determine stress and strain in simple, linear elastic design elements using Hooke’s law, and perform dimensioning with respect to initiation of plastic yielding and buckling.
• Explain the relationship between simple deformation mechanisms and mechanical properties.
• Propose appropriate materials for everyday products based on materials properties and materials manufacturing processes.



Principal Content : The following material groups will be treated: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. The physical concepts of forces and moments, stresses, deformations and strains, elasticity and plastic deformation will be introduced. These concepts will be related to the geometry and loading of structural components and also to material composition, i.e. chemical structure, atomic bonding, crystal and phase structures as well as microstructures for composites and porous materials. The interplay between structural properties under load, material parameters and geometry is illustrated by simple examples of uniaxial tension/compression, bending, torsion and buckling.
The software “Cambridge Engineering Selector” is used for interactive material selection. The knowledge obtained during the course is used in two laboratory exercises, where the microstructure and mechanical properties of a specimen is analyzed.
Teaching method : The teaching is based on “learning by doing”. There will be introductory and summing up lectures. Project work in small groups includes computer simulations, use of internet search engines and case studies.
Required prequisites :
Recommended prerequisites :
Relations :
Type of examination : Oral examination
External examiner : External
Marking : 7 step scale
Remarks :
Teaching material :
Responsible teacher : Carsten Rützou , Carsten.Rutzou@fysik.dtu.dk