Welcome to MATSE 436.  This course presents an in-depth view of the mechanical properties of materials, developing critical skills that can be applied to contemporary issues in research, development and production.  The syllabus for the course is outlined in the following sections.

OUTLINE

1. Instructor Information:
2. Reference Books:
3. Goals and Course Objectives:
4. Overview and Information:
5. Course Outcomes:
6. Assessment Tools:
7. Required Activities:
8. Additional Help
9. Relation of Course Objectives to Program Objectives:
10. Lecture Slides
11. Course Evaluation
    
12. Reserve Books:
13. Detailed Course Content
    
14. Academic Integrity and the Promotion of a Vibrant Learning Culture:
15. 2004 Assignments

Reference Books:    Back to outline

1. Introduction to the Mechanical Properties of Ceramics, D. J. Green.  There are some errors in the book.  To obtain corrections click here    

2. Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, by M.F. Ashby

3. Mechanical Behavior of Materials, T. H. Courtney

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Goals and Course Objectives:
The objectives of the course are to give the student a fundamental understanding and appreciation for the relationship between the structure and mechanical behavior of materials.

Course Description:
The course teaches the students the fundamental relationships between the structure and mechanical behavior of materials.  The critical concept is that the mechanical properties of materials can be controlled by careful design of the structure of the material and this idea is the basic foundation of the course.  The structural effects that can influence mechanical behavior can range in scale from the sub-atomic level, through the nano- and microstructural levels to the macroscopic.  For example, the students learn that properties can be controlled by changing grain size and shape, the addition of other phases to produce composites, etc. The course incorporates the most recent ideas in materials engineering as examples of this design philosophy.  In order to accomplish the above goals, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics concepts needed for the processing, utilization and design of engineering materials must be developed. The students must understand the design process for selecting materials for engineering applications.  Within this design process, the key mechanical properties of materials and the techniques for their measurement must be appreciated. Once the critical properties are identified, the combination of parameters that describe the performance within engineering applications must be understood.  

Materials can exhibit a wide range of deformation types: elastic, plastic, viscous, etc., thus, the mechanics associated with all these processes must be grasped.  Materials can exhibit unexpected failure or loss of tolerance, so it is particularly critical to understand the techniques that are used to improve and assess mechanical reliability. Students will also be expected to understand the techniques that are used for strengthening materials.  The overall goal is to provide the students with the skills that are needed by material engineers to design and utilize materials with high mechanical reliability. 

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Overview and Information:

* Prerequisites:
a) Courses    Math 231, Math 250 or Math 251, Phys 214, MatSE 201 or 259 or E Sc 314
b) Topic       Calculus of Several Variables, Differential Equations, Mechanics, Introduction to Materials Science

* Course Topics:

Course Outcomes:
Graduates will understand:

• The mechanics concepts needed for the processing, utilization and design of materials.
• The key mechanical properties of materials and illustrate how these properties are measured and used in design.
• How to ensure materials will possess high mechanical reliability

Graduates will be able to:

• Relate the mechanical properties of materials to their structure.
• Select materials for structural applications
• Solve realistic and/or fundamental problems relating to the mechanical behavior of materials for individual solutions and tests.
• Work in teams for the materials selection in design.

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Assessment Tools:

Students must contact the instructor prior to the due date of the homework if they are unable to complete the work.  If a student is unable to participate in an exam, they must contact the instructor prior to these events.  The student should also make an appointment with the instructor to determine a date by which these tasks will be completed.  See Senate rules 44-25 and 44-35.  At least 7 days notice will be given for the dates of the in-class exams and for the due dates of the homework and term paper.

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Required Activities

1. The classes will consist of lectures, exams, presentations and group problem solving activities.
2. Attendance at lectures is not mandatory but students are required to determine which material was covered and catch up for missed classes.  An email message is expected with a brief explanation is expected for missed classes.  During the lectures, active participation is expected from the students. 
3. Outside the classes, there will be homework problems, reading, group projects and a term paper.   The group project is aimed at identifying a suitable material for a particular application.  The material will need to satisfy particular design criteria.  Companies that sell these materials will be identified and the key issues that determine whether the material will be a commercial success will be discussed.  A group (powerpoint) presentation will be produced to discuss a topic of general public interest in the area of mechanical behavior.
4. Evening review sessions may be offered but attendance will be optional. 
5. Students will need a scientific calculator for examinations. 
6. Homework will often require the use of a computer.  The necessary software is available in the Department computer facilities.

Department Objectives and Outcomes:

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering has a set of educational objectives and outcomes (http://www.matse.psu.edu/academics/ug-objectives.html).  The following tables show how the objectives and outcomes of MatSE 436 relate to those of the Department.

Relation of Course Objectives to Department Objectives

Course Outcomes

1. Graduates will understand the mechanics concepts needed for the processing, utilization and design of materials.
2. Graduates will understand the key mechanical properties of materials and illustrate how these properties are measured and used in design
3. Graduates will be able to relate the mechanical properties of materials to their structure.
4. Graduates will be able to select materials for structural applications
5. Graduates will be able to solve realistic and/or fundamental problems relating to the mechanical behavior of materials for individual solutions and tests.
6. Graduate will be able to work in teams for the materials selection.
7. Graduates will understand how to ensure materials will possess high mechanical reliability
8. Graduates will be able to research information on a topical area involving mechanical properties and produce a class presentation as a group.

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Relationship of course outcomes map to the departmental outcomes:

a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h	i	j	k	l
1	2	2	3	1	3	2	3	3	2	1	1

1 = strongly related 2 = related 3 = unrelated

Course Evaluation:

The course will be evaluated as follows;
1. Problem sets (7) - 35 %,
2. Group projects (2) - 15 %
3. Class exams (4) - 40%
4. Group presentation (1) - 10 %.

The grades for the above will be based on actual performance with slight adjustments for difficulty.  Audit students must obtain a passing grade in the exams.

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Reserve Books:

The following books have been placed on reserve and they are useful as supplements to the course.  Some books cover advanced topics, others deal with the same subject matter but from an alternative viewpoint.
 

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Detailed Course Content
1. Introduction
1.1. The design process
1.2. Engineering materials: properties, processing and structure.
1.3. Material selection maps

2. Overview of mechanics
2.1. Uniaxial deformation
2.2. Other deformation modes
2.3. Strain definition     
2.4. Stress definition
2.5. Deformation types

3. Elastic behavior  
3.1. Engineering elastic constants   
3.2. General version of Hooke's Law      
3.3. Elastic behavior of isotropic materials
3.4. Relationship of elastic constants to atomic structure.
3.5. Rubber elasticity
3.6. Elastic behavior of particulate composites  
3.7. Constitutive relations for random polycrystals and glasses
3.8. Effects of porosity and microcracking on elastic constants
3.9. Hierarchical effects of structure      
3.10. Thermal expansion
3.11. Measurement of elastic constants
3.12. Elastic stress distributions
3.13. Thermal stresses and thermal shock
3.14. Definition of design stress

4. Viscosity and viscoelasticity  
4.1. Newton's Law of viscosity  
4.2. Temperature dependence of viscosity
4.3. Simple problems of viscous flow  
4.4. Non-linear viscous flow
4.5. Viscoelastic models
4.6. Viscous deformation of non-crystalline materials
4.7. Viscous deformation of crystalline solids       

5. Plastic deformation   
5.1. Theoretical shear strength   
5.2. Dislocations   
5.3. Stress fields of dislocations       
5.4. The geometry of slip   
5.5. Yield strength of crystalline materials   
5.6. Obstacles to dislocation motion: strain hardening, strain-rate hardening.   
5.7. Plasticity in glassy and crystalline polymers.
5.8. Plasticity mechanics
5.9. Hardness   

6. Creep deformation   
6.1. Creep mechanisms in crystalline materials   
6.2. Creep mechanisms in polymers and glasses   
6.3. Deformation mechanism maps
6.4. Measurement of creep mechanisms   

7. Fracture   
7.1. Theoretical cleavage strength   
7.2. Stress concentrations at cracks
7.3. Fracture strength and ductility   
7.4. The Griffith concept       
7.5. Linear elastic fracture mechanics   
7.6. Stress intensity factor solutions       
7.7. Fracture toughness measurements and R Curves       
7.8. Environmentally-induced fracture
7.9. Fatigue       
7.10. Contact and impact damage processes, impact testing
7.11. Fractography

8. Strengthening Processes   
8.1. Toughening methods for brittle materials       
8.2. Hardening methods for low temperature strength: polycrystalline deformation, solid solution strengthening, intermetallic compounds, precipitation hardening, and dispersion hardening.
8.3. Composite strengthening-polymer and metal matrix composites.
8.4. Strengthening of polymers: rubber and rigid particle composites.

 Academic Integrity and the Promotion of a Vibrant Learning Culture:

The following recommendations address the partnership between the faculty-teacher and student-learner in the personal process of learning with a focus on the maturation of students in the learning process (Senate Policy 49-20).

The Teacher in the Learning Process.
Maintaining a high level of learning requires characteristics in teaching necessary for a strong teacher-learner relationship.  The teacher should:

a) Maintain an atmosphere of integrity, civility and respect.
b) Exhibit a strong desire for students to learn.
c) Recognize that effective teaching requires a balance among teaching, advising, research, and service.
d) Encourage active student participation in learning.
e) Employ effective teaching and learning strategies.
f) Help students connect learning experiences.
g) Develop an effective personal teaching approach.

The Student in the Learning Process.
Maintaining a high level of learning and scholarly activity requires the following characteristics of the student learner:

a) Academic integrity, respect, and civility.
b) Strong work ethic.
c) Manage time wisely.
d) Participate actively in class.
e) Recognize importance of out-of-class learning.
f) Reflect on the educational process.
g) Perform self-assessment.

Academic Integrity  (Senate Policy 49-20)

Definition and expectations: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.

Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

For MatSE 436 the following specific points should also be considered.

• For homework problems, there is no difficulty in consulting other students but the final answer to the problems should be performed on an individual basis.  No item should be copied from any document that belongs to another person.  This includes electronic files, documents, spreadsheets, graphs, etc.
• In examinations and quizzes, no outside information can be used during the evaluation nor should students copy from other students in the class.
• All information obtained from the scientific or engineering literature must be referenced.
• If work is performed in groups, all members must participate and the work should be divided evenly.  If you did not help in a group project then you do not deserve a grade for that project.

University policies for undergraduate education
  
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2004 Assignments  

Will be posted on ANGEL

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Class Schedule: 
3 credit class, taught in three 50 minutes classes per week.

Lecture Slides

Back to David J. Green Web Page

Prepared by:     David J. Green, January 8, 2004.