MSE 201

Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Spring 2005 Class Syllabus

 
Prerequisites: Chemistry 120

Lectures: Tuesday - Thursday 9:40-10:55

Laboratory: Thursday 1:25-3:20 or 3:35-5:30

 

Instructor:  Dr. Philip D. Rack

e-mail: prack@utk.edu

Office: Dougherty Engineering Building 603 (6th floor)

Phone: (865) 974-5344

Office Hours: by appointment

Class website:  http://web.utk.edu/~prack/mse201/mse201-main.htm 
 
General Description: 
All engineering structures and devices utilize materials which have been selected based on their properties. These properties along with design considerations enable a desired performance level. Therefore, engineers of every type are well served in their careers by an understanding of the scientific foundations of materials that govern these properties. Accordingly:This course is designed to provide an introduction to engineering materials with an emphasis on how atomic and molecular bonding, structure, composition and processing influence material properties. 
The format for the class is lecture/homework/exam. 
 
Textbook: Materials Science and Engineering – 6th edition, William D. Callister, John Wiley and Sons Publisher, 2003.
 
Course objectives:
1) to provide an understanding of the influence of bonding, nano- and micro-structure, composition and processing on the properties of materials
2) to provide students with an understanding of various types of materials, their ranges of properties, and how their properties can be tailored for engineering purposes
3) To provide the students with an understanding of the various advantages and disadvantages offered by specific classes of materials, and an awareness of the possible tradeoffs associated with optimization of a specific material's properties
 
MSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering Class Policies: 
This list of rules may seem arbitrary, long, and severe.  
Unfortunately, there is a story behind each rule.  The stories range from the mundane and expected to the bizarre. The vast majority of you will never come up against any of the rules.  Nonetheless, it seems that there is at least one individual in every class that needs them.  
1. Use e-mail for easy questions and to setup special appt. times. 
2. Please display proper decorum during class
Examples of poor decorum: sleeping, reading the newspaper, arriving late to class, talking to neighbor, leaving during class….
3. When you have questions, ASK !!
4. When I ask questions, ANSWER !
5. Class attendance is mandatory. Class attendance will improve your chances of learning the material more thoroughly. While attendance records will not be officially kept, students who attend classes and review sessions, ask questions and attempt to answer questions by the instructor will be given the benefit of the doubt if their grade is borderline. The class has been organized so that learning is optimized through a combination of lecture/text reading/homework review. Participation in only one of these activities is usually insufficient for learning.
 
Rules for homework assignments:
1.  Homework is due at the start of class on the day indicated in the class section that you are registered for.
The "start of class" is the time at which Dr. Rack begins the lecture.  Any assignment handed in after that time will be considered late: 
Handed in day due                         Max. Score Possible = 70%
Handed in next day                         Max Score Possible = 50%
Handed in after 5 PM                      Max Score Possible = 0%
2. You may work with other members of the class in solving the homework problems. If you choose to work with others, you must write their names below yours on the submitted homework assignments.  Otherwise identical homework will be considered an honor code violation. Copied homework will automatically receive a zero grade.
3. All assignments are to be professionally done and LABELED with your NAME.
a. Write and draw diagrams neatly and clearly.  Most problems should have at least one diagram. Certain graphs must be generated by computer. If this is not stipulated, you may assume that a hand-drawn diagram is satisfactory.
b. Define all variables.  State all assumptions.
c. Annotate all solutions to allow your thinking process to be clear.- if your approach cannot be followed, no partial credit will be given.
d. Write on only one side of a piece of paper and staple pages together. (Staples are provided by the instructor at a cost of 5 points.)
e. Clearly delineate the start and end of each problem.
f. Include units in all final answers which must be boxed or placed in a table (depending on specification of problem).
g. Discussions must be composed of complete sentences.
4. Each homework problem will represent a small percentage of your overall grade.  Please do not nit-pick the grading.  If you think a major grading mistake has been made, see the instructor either after class or during office hours.  Note that regrading may result in lower scores. If you bring in your friend's work for comparison, that person must sign the work to indicate that they understand that we will also regrade it and that its score may be lowered as a result.
 
 
 
Rules for exams and quizzes:
1. Exams/quizzes will be closed book individual efforts. Cheating will result in a score of zero.  
2. Make-up major quizzes will not be given unless arrangements have been made before the scheduled major quiz time. Make-up major quizzes will normally be given before the scheduled quiz time except in extreme emergencies.
3. Place final answers in a box with units, show all work, define all variables, state all assumptions for partial credit.
 
Evaluation (Tentative):
Laboratory: 20%
Homework: 10%
Major Quiz 1: 20%
Major Quiz 2: 20%%
Final Exam: 30%