Study information

Mechanics of Materials - 2024 entry

MODULE TITLEMechanics of Materials CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEENE2005 MODULE CONVENERProf Philipp Thies (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 77
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

This module aims to help you understand the properties of engineering materials, and the classification of steels, non-iron metals and polymers.  It also teaches you how to physically test samples of materials to determine material properties, and how to avoid failure in engineering applications, including stress and deformation calculation.

Moreover,  the module is designed to help you to comprehend failure mechanism, including fracture and fatigue, and  understand complex stresses and strains arising in elastic and non-elastic systems. In addition, you will learn how to apply numerical evaluation methods, including both underlying principal methods and industrial software implementation .

Finally, by the end of the module, you will be able to use calculation methods to assess fastening of multiple components.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module, you will learn about the key aspects of an engineering design approach, and will develop your understanding of the properties of engineering materials, the testing of material materials and the strength, failure and safety factor. The module also teaches you numerical approaches for the stress calculation in engineering applications.

This module will deliver and summatively assess the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programme (AHEP-4) Learning Outcomes that are indicated in brackets in the ILO section below.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
 
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: 
 
1. comprehensive knowledge of Engineering Material properties and the material selection approach (incl. safety factors) in order to be able to select and to apply appropriate materials, whilst recognising limitations and engineering trade-offs (C13). 
 
2. Use and comprehend practical laboratory material testing to investigate material properties (C12). 
 
3. Formulate and analyse complex mechanics of material problems to reach substantiated conclusions. Using engineering principles (axially loaded members, bending and torsion) and engineering judgment to work assess design solutions and be able to scrutinise the limitations of the techniques employed. (C2) 
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge 
 
4. Select and apply appropriate computational techniques, using Solidworks FEA to model complex problems, recognising and discussing the limitations of the techniques employed. (C3)   
 
5. Design and evaluate solutions for complex problems that evidence originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve a material / engineering design challenge, identifying design trade-offs and design solutions to meet functional requirements within given design constraints. (C5)  
 
Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge 

 
6. to function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. The group project will enable you to evaluate your own effectiveness and the team performance through peer assessment (C16) 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Overview: Introduction

Review Fundamental concepts: Review of Fundamental Concepts: Stress & Strain, Linear elasticity, Factors of Safety, Allowable stresses & loads 

Introduction & applications of Solidworks FEA with seminars and tutorials (4 weeks) 

Properties of Engineering Materials: Overview to the range of engineering material families, properties and material property charts. 

Material Selection: Overview to material design and selection strategy for materials, presenting examples using material property charts. 

Material Failures: Overview to Material types and processes, incl. types of mechanical deformation and failures, Fracture Modes, Fracture Mechanics,

Impact Fracture Testing. 

Fatigue: time dependent loading, fatigue failure mechanisms and factors, as well as relevant failure mitigation. Two prominent engineering disasters are

analysed in light of fatigue failure. 

Axially Loaded members: Calculate change in length for prismatic and non-uniform bars, statically indeterminate structures, thermal effects, misfits,

pre-strains and stresses on inclined sections. 

Torsion: Calculate max shear stress, max twist angle; applications in power generation, concept of torsional rigidity.  

Stresses in beams I: curvature and strain of beams, the flexure formula to calculate normal bending stress and bending shear stress. 

Stresses in beams II: Beam applications, I-beams, sandwich beams calculations and approach.

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 40 Guided Independent Study 110 Placement / Study Abroad
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 16 Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 10 Tutorials
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 12 Introduction to SolidWorks
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 2 Experimental data assessment(Lab)
Guided independent study 110 Private study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Tutorial questions 1 hour tutorials 1, 3, 5 During tutorials
Group work feedback outline submission 5,6 Written feedback on submission
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 30 Written Exams 70 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Examination 70 2 hours 1, 3, 5 Written
Assignment - involving synthesis and analysis of engineering design 20 1200 word equivalent per student 1,3,4,5,6 Written
Laboratory assessment - involving synthesis and analysis of engineering design and experimental procedures 10 ELE quix, 30 minutes 2 Written
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
Summative assessment Assessment As above Referral/Deferral period
Examination Examination As above Referral/Deferral period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment. 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40% 

 
RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and electronic resources:

SolidWorks help files

Core/Essential Reading
BJ Goodno, JM Gere (2021). Mechanics of Materials
RC Hibbeler (2018). Mechanics of materials
EJ Hearn (1997). Mechanics of materials: an introduction to the mechanics of elastic and plastic deformation of solids and structural materials.
MF Ashby (2010) Materials selection in mechanical design.
JA Crane (1997). Selection and use of engineering materials
 
Further Reading
MF Ashby, K Johnson (2010). Materials and design : the art and science of material selection in product design.
RV Dukkipati, J Srinivas (2010). Solving Engineering Mechanics Problems with MATLAB.
 

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Ashby, M. F. Materials selection in mechanical design Butterworth Heinemann 2010
Set Crane, J. A. Selection and use of engineering materials 3rd Butterworth Heinemann
Set Goodno, B. J. & J. M. Gere Mechanics of Materials 9th Cengage 2021
Set Hearn E.J. Mechanics of Materials 3rd Butterworth 1997
Set Hibbeler, R. C. Mechanics of materials 10th Pearson 2018
Set Ashby, M. F. & K. Johnson Materials and design : the art and science of material selection in product design 2nd Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann 2010
Set Dukkipati, R. V. & J. Srinivas Solving Engineering Mechanics Problems with MATLAB New Age Science
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 5 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Saturday 9th March 2024 LAST REVISION DATE Friday 2nd August 2024
KEY WORDS SEARCH Mechanics of Materials

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.