MATERIALS & STATICS - 2021/2

Module Overview

The Materials element of this module provides an introduction to a range of common material properties and outlines major classes of materials. The Statics part of the module aims to introduce students to the basic principles of statics and provide an introduction to elementary strength of materials (direct and bending stresses).

Module provider

Mechanical Engineering Sciences

Module Leader

SUI Tan (Mech Eng Sci)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Module content

Indicative content includes:

1. Materials

1.1 Generic topics in mechanical properties of materials [14 hrs]

Introduction to topics to be covered and some definitions.

Stress-strain behaviour: Stress and strain – definitions. Elastic, plastic and visco-elastic behaviour. Stress/strain behaviour for metals, ceramics, elastomers and plastics. Property data (modulus, yield strength, proof strength, tensile strength, ductility, toughness). Structure-property relationships.

Materials selection in simple mechanical design: Specific stiffness and specific strength. Performance indices. Case studies – materials selection for offshore structures, aerospace structures, bicycles and springs.

Overview of fracture and durability (creep, fatigue) of materials. Definition of terms. Fracture toughness as a material property. S-N data in fatigue, strain-time response under creep conditions.

Fracture mechanics: Behaviour of materials containing stress concentrations and cracks. Stress intensity factor and fracture toughness. Energy release rate/toughness.

Fatigue: Predicting life of uncracked components (Basquin and Miner relationships). Modelling fatigue crack growth – Paris relation and its application.

Visco-elasticity and Creep: Maxwell and Voigt models for polymers. Dependence of creep rate for metals on stress and temperature. Microstructural aspects of creep failure.

Oxidation: Linear and parabolic rate laws. Mechanisms of oxidation (diffusion). Effect of temperature.

Wet corrosion: Simple chemical cells. Standard electrode potential and galvanic series. Differential aeration. Controlling corrosion in engineering structures.

1.2 Aspects of particular classes of materials, including where appropriate, the commercial, economic and social context   [8 hrs]

(a) Metals – Overview of properties and processing

(b) Polymers – principal classes, glass transition temperature, typical properties, processing and cost

(c) Ceramics – engineering and traditional ceramics (including concrete); processing and properties (strength, “static fatigue”, thermal shock

(d) Composites

(e) Timber

(f) Concrete

1.3 Revision lectures  [2 hrs]

 

2. Statics [11 hrs]

Equilibrium and free body diagrams (2D structures and systems)

Trusses (method of joints, 2D determinate systems)

Bending moment and shear force diagrams in beams (determinate straight beams, concentrated and uniformly distributed loads, using equilibrium)

Properties of areas (centre of gravity/area, second moment of area about an axis and point)

Direct normal and shear stress

Bending stresses in beams

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed as follows:

For materials, to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate understanding of the most important mechanical properties of the various main classes of engineering materials and related factors of materials selection, durability and aspects of processing. For statics, to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of structural mechanics to the analysis of 1D and 2D problems.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Examination {80%}                      [Learning outcomes 1,2,3,4]    (2 hours)


• Statics assignment {10%}            [Learning outcomes  3,4]        (15 hours)     


• Materials assignment  {10%}        [Learning outcomes 1,2]]       (15 hours)    

 

Formative assessment and feedback

Materials:  Formative verbal feedback is provided through tutorials (5 hours) where students are provided with individual comments on how they have approached solving problems; students are also provided with written solutions which provide a thorough exposition of the correct solution to the problems and also an indication of the various steps in the solution where it may have been possible to go astray and hence produce an incorrect answer.

Statics;

Formative assessment and feedback is provided via the weekly supported tutorial work  (10 hours) and through self-assessment exercises provided via SurreyLearn.  The students complete a set of worked solutions to a range of questions in the tutorial classes and are provided with tutor support in comment and feedback in the sessions.  

Module aims

• To define and discuss the main mechanical properties and durability of engineering materials and to review the salient features of the main classes of materials in the context of these properties. In addition, factors relating to materials selection and design, processing and sustainability will be addressed.
• To provide students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts of engineering analysis, as applied to the strength and stiffness of statically determinate structures with uniaxial stress fields.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy:

The module introduces the fundamentals of Engineering Materials for the MEng and BEng programmes in Mechanical, Aerospace, Medical, Automotive and Civil Engineering, including a wide variety of applications.  In addition, the module introduces the basis for structural mechanics leading to topics in Solid Mechanics (ENG1066 and ENG1076) and Structural Engineering at FHEQ Level 5, 6 and 7 on the MEng and BEng programmes in Mechanical, Aerospace, Medical, Automotive and Civil Engineering. 

The learning and teaching methods:

The module is delivered by weekly lectures and supported by tutorial classes (smaller groups) in the two main components:

• Statics: 1 hour lecture x 11 weeks


• Statics: 1 hour tutorial (in groups) x 5 weeks


• Materials: 2 hours lectures x 11 weeks


• Materials: 2 hours revision lectures x 1 week


• Materials: 1 hour tutorial (in groups) x 5 weeks

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG1063

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.