MATERIALS & STATICS - 2025/6

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

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

1. Materials

Material Properties

Atomic Bonding and structure

Metals - Characteristics and properties

Metals - Manufacturing

Ceramics - Characteristics and properties

Ceramics - Processing / manufacture

Polymers  - Characteristics and properties

Polymers - Manufacturing

Composites - Characteristics and properties

Composites - Manufacturing

Fracture Mechanics

Fatigue

 

2. Statics 

• Force Systems


• Equilibrium


• Free Body Diagrams


• Structures: Trusses, Machines and Frames


• Theory of Elasticity and Direct Stress


• Shear Stress and Bending Moment Diagrams

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.

Summative assessment

• Examination    [Learning outcomes 1,2,3]


• Coursework     [Learning outcome 1]

Formative assessment and feedback

Materials:  Formative verbal feedback is provided through tutorials 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 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, Biomedical and Automotive Engineering, including a wide variety of applications.  In addition, the module introduces the basis for structural mechanics leading to topics in Solid Mechanics (ENG1066)

The learning and teaching methods:

Materials & Statics

• Lectures


• Tutorial (in groups)

 

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

Other information

The School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: The module provides students with fundamental knowledge of properties, processing and durability of a variety of engineering materials, such as ceramics, composites, polymers, metals and their alloys, as well as fundamental concepts of engineering analysis for structures. With showcase of elaborated case studies covering such as aerospace, biomedical and automotive industries, students will develop understanding of the behaviour and performance of different materials and their applications across engineering sectors, which will lay the foundation for students’ future career.

Digital capabilities: Students will be provided video resources on materials manufacturing and processing, advanced mechanical testing of materials (e.g. fatigue, fracture and tensile tests) and other real industry applications to gain understanding of lectures.

Sustainability: One of the key learning outcomes of this module is for the students to understand fracture and fatigue of engineering materials that are crucial to the sustainability of structures and products in industries. Beyond basic concepts and analysis of these phenomena and properties, students will also get familiar with the industrial standard of mechanical testing, selection and design criteria for materials that are linked to sustainability requirement. 

Global and Cultural capabilities: As a fundamental course for all Year 1 students from all the subjects including BEng/MEng biomedical, automotive, mechanical and aerospace engineering, students will engage with other peers from different backgrounds and cultures. The nature of the course also requires students to demonstrate global awareness of materials safety and its societal impacts to sustainability of real industry.

Resourcefulness and resilience: Students will develop resourcefulness in responding to problem-based and case studies-based task questions, as well as acquiring extended knowledge from references. They will share ideas and problem-solving skills during tutorials, therefore building their confidence and working towards achieving successful outcomes. 
 

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 2025/6 academic year.