Structure and Properties of Materials

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

n addition to presential formal lessons of key themes that integrate the syllabus, in which the basic concepts will be taught as well as the discussion is stimulated on its importance for the future mechanical engineers, an attempt is made to pass from the matter to the material. The classes will be always supported by more applied examples to demonstrate the subject and its interest for the understanding of the importance of the materials. Proactive stance by the students will be encouraged during the classes which is crucial for skills acquisition.

Learning Outcomes

The mechanical engineer must acquire a minimum of specified competence on the relation between chemical bonding /atomic structure /properties of matter, in order to understand and act in a sustainable way on their applications.From the matter to the final material there is the conformation, which is crucial to fulfill its usefulness in Mechanical Engineering. For the understanding of the influence of the structure on the performance of the materials, it is fundamental that the student is able to know the meaning of the different properties, in particular the mechanical ones, reason why basic concepts about the properties should be acquired. Moreover, it is also an objective, with these basic concepts, to give to the students the necessary competences in order that they can learn easier the subjects to be taught in other curricular units of the course. This course of introductory character, in addition to the initiation of the aspects in areas of Engineering gives the student and late.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Chemical bonding. Molecular symmetry and structure.

Order and disorder in the matter.

Structure of materials (metals and alloys, ceramics and glass, polymers and composites.

Crystalline defects.

Transport phenomena: diffusion and precipitation, phase growth, phase changes.

Mechanical concepts; stress and strain; Tensile test.

Mechanical properties of engineering materials; Young´s modulus; yield strength, ductility, hardness, resilience, fracture toughness, fatigue, creep.

Physical properties: mechanical, thermal, optical, electrical.

Chemical properties: oxidation, corrosion.

Head Lecturer(s)

João Carlos Barbas de Oliveira

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Final assessment
Exam - alternative to Midterm exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Materials Science and Engineering, An Introduction; William D. Callister, John William and Sons, 2007

William F. Smith, “Princípios de Ciência e Engenharia dos Materiais”,  McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 1998

Michael F. Ashby, Hugh Shercliff, David Cebon, Materials: Engineering, Science, Processing and Design 2nd edition, BH (Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier, 2007 .