Performance of Engineering Materials

Learning Outcomes

• Washington Accord (V4) Summary of Graduate Attributes attained in this course:
  Part A: Polymers
   WA2 – Problem Analysis
   WA3 – Design/Development of Solutions
   WA4 – Investigation
   WA5 – Tool Usage
  Part B: Metals
   WA1 – Engineering Knowledge
   WA2 – Problem Analysis
   WA3 – Design/Development of Solutions
   WA4 – Investigation
   WA9 – Communication
  
  
• Course topics with Learning Outcomes (and Washington Accord (WA) and UC Graduate Attributes) identified.
  
  Part A: Polymers
  1. Correlation between chemical, structural and physical characteristics of metals and plastics necessary for appropriate material selection, design and processing
          1.1. Perform dynamic mechanical analysis as a method for experimentally determining thermomechanical parameters (WA4) (EIE3, EIE4)
          1.2. Apply basic modelling concepts of viscoelastic materials to predict time-dependent properties (WA5) (EIE3, EIE4)
          1.3. Understand the relationship between polymer processing and final part performance (WA2) (EIE3)
          1.4. Apply concepts of manufacture of polymers in mechanical designs (WA3)
  Part B: Metals
  2. Mechanical Properties and Testing; Linear elastic fracture mechanics; Fracture toughness testing; Ductile Brittle Transition; CVN-KIc Conversion; Fatigue: Introduction and definitions
          2.1. Understand and be able to interpret mechanical properties tests and testing standards (WA1, WA2, WA4, WA10)
          2.2. Understand and apply Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics, fracture toughness, impact toughness in simple loading (WA1, WA2, WA4)
  3. Trends in S-N curves, Mean Stresses; Application of LEFM to fatigue; Fatigue crack growth prediction; Environmental assisted crack growth; Plasticity in materials; Cyclic plasticity
          3.1. Understand and apply stress-based, LEFM-based and strain-based approaches to fatigue including mean stress effects and notches to predict lifetimes (WA1, WA2, WA3, WA4)
          3.2. Understand and apply equations to predict environmentally assisted crack growth and lifetimes (WA1, WA2, WA3, WA4)
          3.3. Understand and apply models for plasticity including with cyclic loading and with notches to predict material behaviour (WA1, WA2)
  4. Stress-strain analysis: Bending, torsion, cyclic loading and notched members; Strain-based fatigue: Material behaviour, Life estimates for notched members; Creep: Life estimates.
           4.1. Understand creep and predict creep strain and lifetimes (WA1, WA2, WA3)

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

	Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
	Employable, innovative and enterprising Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Prerequisites

For further information see Mechanical Engineering .