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Materials for Mechanical Engineers
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:41:37
Abstract
This course provides a basic foundation in materials science for mechanical engineers. Students learns how to select the right material for the application at hand. In addition, the appropriate processing-microstructure-property relationship will lead to the fundamental understanding of concepts that determines the mechanical and functional properties.
Objective
At the end of the course, the student will able to: • choose the appropriate material for mechanical engineering applications • find the optimal compromise between materials property, cost and ecological impact • understand the most important concepts that allow for the tuning of mechanical and functional properties of materials
Content
Block A: Materials Selection • Principles of Materials Selection • Introduction to the Cambridge Engineering Selector • Cost optimization and penalty functions • Ecoselection Block B: Mechanical properties across materials classes • Young's modulus from 1 Pa to 1 TPa • Failure: yield strength, toughness, fracture toughness, and fracture energy • Strategies to toughen materials from gels to metals. Block C: Structural Light Weight Materials • Aluminum and magnesium alloys • Engineering and fiber-reinforced polymers Block D: Structural Materials in the Body • Strength, stiffness and wear resistance • Processing, structure and properties of load-bearing implants Block E: Structural High Temperature Materials • Superalloys and refractory metals • Structural high-temperature ceramics Block F: Materials for Sensors • Semiconductors • Piezoelectrica Block G: Dissipative dynamics and bonding • Frequency dependent materials properties (from rheology of soft materials to vibration damping in structural materials) • Adhesion energy and contact mechanics • Peeling and delamination Block H: Materials for 3D Printing • Deposition methods and their consequences for materials (deposition by sintering, direct ink writing, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography) • Additive manufacturing of structural and active Materials
Resources
Literature
• Kalpakjian, Schmid, Werner, Werkstofftechnik • Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design • Meyers, Chawla, Mechanical Behavior of Materials • Rösler, Harders, Bäker, Mechanisches Verhalten der Werkstoffe
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- written 120 minutes
- Aids
- 2 A4 pages with notes are allowed
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Materials for Mechanical Engineers |
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | Materials for Mechanical Engineers |
|
1 h weekly |