Course specification for MEC3203

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MEC3203 Materials Technology

Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Springfield
Short Description: Materials Technology
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 030305 - Materials Engineering
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Pre-requisite: MEC1201 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or GCNS or GDNS or MEPR or MENS

Rationale

The engineer uses a wide variety of materials from platinum to rocks in order to construct bridges, automobiles, jet engines, process plants, electronic components, etc. These material have widely varying properties and consequently it is necessary for the engineer to have a sound working knowledge of the characteristic properties and behaviour during processing/fabrication and in service of the common types of engineering materials. This course extends the basic course MEC1201 Engineering Materials, to show how the basic principles of materials science are used in the development of contemporary engineering materials used in everyday engineering applications.

Synopsis

This course is an advanced level materials engineering course, and builds onto prior engineering materials knowledge. The course design is primarily based on a case study that seeks to consolidate and assess higher-level analytical and critical thinking, but also seeks to introduce professional practice and judgement in applying various materials application methods. The relevant "materials science" content will be inherently explored through the case study, but the main emphasis will be on applications and practice. The objective here in this course is about getting student engineers to "think" rather than just "learn". This approach is demonstrated through systematic exploration, evaluation, synthesis, and application in material selection and failure analysis methods.

Objectives

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. appraise the characteristics, properties, applications and behaviour (including strengthening mechanisms) during processing, fabrication and service of a wide range of engineering materials
  2. examine and evaluate the effects of stress, fatigue, creep, corrosion, and wear on materials
  3. examine and evaluate forms and effects of corrosion in metals and review the main methods of corrosion prevention
  4. examine and evaluate the effects of welding on the properties of a welded component and the methods used to ensure a sound weld
  5. systematically apply and justify the failure analysis of a material or a system of materials, including the use of relevant failure analysis methodologies
  6. systematically specify and justify suitable material(s) for a given application, including the use of relevant material selection methodologies.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Ferrous Metal; Non-Ferrous Metal; Polymers & Composites; Ceramics; Strengthening Mechanisms; Joining of Materials 10.00
2. Corrosion of Materials; Wear of Materials; Fatigue and Creep 10.00
3. Failure Analysis 40.00
4. Materials Selection 40.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=MEC3203)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Askeland, DR, Fulay, PP & Wright, WJ 2016, The science and engineering of materials, 7th edn, Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT.
(SI Edition.)
A hand held battery operated calculator which does not have keys for the alphabet.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
ASM Handbooks Online (access via the USQ Library: eResources Index, permanent URL link ASM Handbook, ASM Desk Editions - Engineered Materials Handbook, ASM Desk Editions - Metals Handbook, ASM Failure Analysis Center.
ASTM Standards Collection Online (access via the USQ Library: eResources Index, permanent URL link .
Callister Jr, WD and Reithwisch, DG 2018, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, 10th edition, Wiley, New York (E-Text).
MEC3203 Materials Technology: Readings, ¾«¶«´«Ã½app of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba (access via "Course Reading - DiReCT" on MEC3203 ¾«¶«´«Ã½appdesk).
Standards Online Premium (access via the USQ Library: eResources Index, permanent URL link .

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 26.00
Examinations 2.00
Lectures 26.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 89.00
Tutorials 12.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Objectives Assessed Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1 100 10 09 Apr 2020 1
ASSIGNMENT 2 300 30 21 May 2020 5,6
ONLINE QUIZZES 100 10 21 May 2020 1,2,3,4
Online Exam 500 50 End S1 1,2,3,4,5,6 (see note 1)

Notes
  1. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official examination timetable has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    In a Restricted Examination, candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination); a non-programmable electronic calculator (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination).

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Students must familiarise themselves with the USQ Assessment Procedures (.

  2. Referencing in Assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. These policies can be found at .

Date printed 19 June 2020