COURSE SYLLABI
PREFACE
The choice of an appropriate introductory materials science and engineering course syllabus is a subjective issue, which
has been debated ad infinitum. However, on occasion, an instructor of such a course desires direction in this regard; we,
therefore, have elected to suggest several options.
In preparing these syllabi, we used the results of a survey that was conducted in the fall of 1998. A number of faculty
members in the US and Canada representing the several engineering disciplines were provided a list of approximately 50
materials science and engineering topics, and were asked to indicate which they felt should be included in an introductory MSE
course. Approximately 140 survey forms were completed and returned. On the basis of this survey, we prepared a list of "core"
topics--those that at least 90% of the recipients deemed critical. Thus, for a "typical" introductory course taken by students of
any engineering discipline, these topics would "most likely" be part of the syllabus.
Also included in the core syllabus are the number of 50 minutes lecture periods I suggest be devoted to each subject
area; again, this is a subjective judgment, and my lecture allocations are probably a little on the liberal side. And, as may be
noted, I have assigned a total of 40 lecture periods. The typical introductory MSE course is a one-semester offering when most
of the students are majoring in engineering disciplines other than materials science and engineering. On the other hand, the
introductory course is often of two semesters duration for MSE majors.
The core syllabus also includes, for each subject area, corresponding textbook sections as well as relevant questions and
problems.
In addition to the core syllabus are listings of optional topics--one for each of the five general engineering disciplines--
chemical, mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, as well as materials science and engineering. The survey that was
conducted did not break down the responses by discipline. Therefore, in formulating these optional topics lists, for other than
MSE, we selected those subject areas from the survey that received 80% to 90% criticality ratings, and then polled a number of
colleague faculty members in each of the disciplines as to their preferences. For MSE, all topics other than those in the core
syllabus are included in the optional list. It is highly unlikely that the number of available lecture periods will allow for
discussion of these suggested core topics as well as all of the optional ones; consequently, an instructor will probably want to
pick and choose among the topics in the optional list.
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CORE TOPIC SYLLABUS
Lectures Topic Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
0.5 Introduction Chapter 1 1.1-1.5
0.25 Atomic Structure 2.1-2.4 2.1-2.14
0.75 Atomic Bonding in Solids 2.6-2.10 2.22-2.27
3.0 Metallic Structures 3.1-3.10, 3.12-3.15, 3.17 3.1-3.57, 3.63, 3.77
1.5 Defects 4.1-4.4, 4.6-4.8 4.1-4.37, 4.39-4.44, 4.D1-4.D2
2.0 Diffusion Chapter 5 5.1-5.44, 5.D1-5.D5
4.0 Mechanical Tests/Behavior—Metals Chapter 6 6.1-6.63, 6.D1-6.D4
1.0 Dislocations 4.5, 7.1-7.2 4.38, 7.1-7.4
1.5 Deformation Mechanisms—Metals 7.3-7.4, 7.6 7.5-7.10
2.0 Strengthening/Hardening—Metals 7.8-7.10, 11.9 7.21-7.33, 7.D1-7.D4, 11.31,
11.D14-11.D16
4.0 Failure—Metals Chapter 8 8.1-8.45, 8.D1-8.D7
4.5 Phase Diagrams—Metallic Systems 9.1-9.4, 9.6-9.11, 9.13-9.15, 9.1-9.3, 9.5-9.32, 9.47-9.54,
9.18-9.19 9.57-9.79
0.5 Kinetics of Phase Transformations 10.1-10.2, 10.3 (Kinetic Consid.), 10.4 10.1, 10.6-10.14
3.5 Correlation of Properties with Microstructure 10.7-10.8, portions of 10.5 10.17, 10.31-10.39, 10.D1-10.D10
and 10.6
2
1.5 Recovery, Recrystallization, Grain Growth 7.11-7.13 7.34-7.45, 7.D5-7.D8
1.0 Metal Alloy Types/Properties/Applications 11.1-11.3 11.1-11.12, 11.D1-11.D5
1.0 Ceramic Structures 12.1-12.2, 12.5-12.6 12.1-12.22, 12.28-12.37, 12.D1
0.5 Mechanical Tests/Behavior—Ceramics 12.9, 12.11 12.44-12.47, 12.49-12.52, 12.D2
1.0 Ceramic Types/Properties/Applications 13.1-13.9 13.1-13.3, 13.8, 13.D1
2.5 Polymer Structures Chapter 14 14.1-14.10, 14.13-14.29
2.0 Mechanical Tests/Behavior—Polymers 15.1-15.3 15.1-15.4
1.5 Polymer Types/Properties/Applications 15.15-15.19 5.36-15.38, 15.D1-15.D3
_____
40.0
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
OPTIONAL TOPICS
Topics Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
Polymer Structures II 14.8 14.11-14.12
Deformation Mechanisms—Polymers 15.7 15.13
Strengthening/Hardening Techniques—Polymers 15.8-15.9 15.14-15.29
Viscoelasticity 15.4 15.5-15.10
Crystallization, Melting, Glass Transition—Polymers 15.10-15.14 15.30-15.35
Processing of Polymers 15.20-15.24 15.39-15.46
Composites Chapter 16 16.1-16.30, 16.D1-16.D6
Corrosion/Degradation Chapter 17 17.1-17.32, 17.D1-17.D3
Thermal Properties Chapter 19 19.1-19.29, 19.D1-19.D4
Economic/Environmental Considerations Chapter 22 22.D1-22.D4
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MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
OPTIONAL TOPICS
Topics Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
Fracture Mechanics M.1-M.4 (ME Online Module) M.1-M.16, M.D1-M.D6
(To replace text Section 8.5) (ME Online Module)
Fatigue M.5-M.6 (ME Online Module) M.17, M.D7-M.D13
(To replace text Section 8.9) (ME Online Module)
Viscoelasticity 15.4 15.5-15.10
Isothermal Transformation Diagrams 10.5 10.16-10.23
Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams 10.6, 10.9 10.24-10.30
Deformation Mechanisms—Polymers 15.7 15.13
Strengthening/Hardening—Polymers 15.8-15.9 15.14-15.29
Composites Chapter 16 16.1-16.30, 16.D1-16.D6
Corrosion/Degradation Chapter 17 17.1-17.32, 17.D1-17.D3
Economic/Environmental Considerations Chapter 22 22.D1-22.D4
Case Studies
Automobile Valve Spring M.7-M.8 (ME Online Module) M.D14-MD.17 (ME Online Module)
Failure of an Automobile Rear Axle M.9-M.11 (ME Online Module)
Materials Selection—Torsionally Stressed M.12-M.13 (ME Online Module) M.D18-M.D23 (ME Online Module)
Cylindrical Shaft
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CIVIL ENGINEERING
OPTIONAL TOPICS
Topics Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
Fracture Mechanics M.1-M.4 (ME Online Module) M.1-M.16, M.D1-M.D6
(To replace text Section 8.5) (ME Online Module)
Fatigue M.5-M.6 (ME Online Module) M.17, M.D7-M.D13
(To replace text Section 8.9) (ME Online Module)
Isothermal Transformation Diagrams 10.5 10.16-10.23
Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams 10.6, 10.9 10.24-10.30
Applications of Ceramics 13.7 13.8
Composites Chapter 16 16.1-16.30, 16.D1-16.D6
Corrosion/Degradation Chapter 17 17.1-17.32, 17.D1-17.D3
Economic/Environmental Considerations Chapter 22 22.D1-22.D4
Case Study—Materials Selection for a M.12-M.23 (ME Online Module) M.D18-M.D23 (ME Online Module)
Torsionally Stressed Cylindrical Shaft
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ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
OPTIONAL TOPICS
Topics Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
Electrical Properties Chapter 18 18.1-18.59, 18.D1-18.D8
Thermal Properties Chapter 19 19.1-19.29, 19.D1-19.D4
Magnetic Properties Chapter 20 20.1-20.32, 20.D1-20.D2
Optical Properties Chapter 21 21.1-21.28, 21.D1
Economic/Environmental Considerations Chapter 22 22.D1-22.D4
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MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
OPTIONAL TOPICS
Topics Sections/Chapter Problems/Questions
Atomic Structure II 2.5 2.15-2.21
Metallic Structures II 3.11, 3.16 3.58-3.62, 3.64-3.76
Microscopy 4.9-4.11 4.45-4.51
Deformation—of Single Crystals/by Twinning 7.5, 7.7 7.11-7.20
Fracture Mechanics M.1-M.4 (ME Online Module) M.1-M.16, M.D1-M.D6
(To replace text Section 8.5) (ME Online Module)
Fatigue M.5-M.6 (ME Online Module) M.17, M.D7-M.D13
(To replace text Section 8.9) (ME Online Module)
Viscoelasticity 15.4 15.5-15.10
Phase Diagrams II 9.5, 9.12, 9.16-9.17, 9.4, 9.33-9.46, 9.55-9.56, 9.80-9.81,
9.20, 12.7 12.38-12.40
Kinetics of Phase Transformations II 10.3 10.2-10.5, 10.15
Isothermal Transformation Diagrams 10.5 10.16, 10.18-10.23
Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams 10.6, 10.9 10.24-10.30, 10.35
Ceramic Structures II 12.3-12.4 12.23-12.27
Polymer Structures II 14.8 14.11-14.12
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Deformation Mechanisms
Ceramics 12.10 12.48
Polymers/Elastomers 15.7, 15.9 15.13, 15.23-15.24
Strengthening/Hardening Techniques
Ceramics 16.10 --
Polymers/Elastomers 15.8 15.14-15.22, 15.25-15.29, 15.46
Crystallization, Melting, Glass Transition--Polymers 15.10-15.14 15.30-15.35
Processing/Fabrication
Metals 11.4-11.8 11.13-11.29, 11.D6-11.D13
Ceramics 13.10-13.13 13.9-13.25
Polymers 15.20-15.24 15.36-15.45
Composites Chapter 16 16.1-16.30, 16.D1-16.D6
Corrosion/Degradation Chapter 17 17.1-17.32, 17.D1-17.D3
Electrical Properties Chapter 18 18.1-18.59, 18.D1-18.D8
Thermal Properties Chapter 19 19.1-19.29, 19.D1-19.D4
Magnetic Properties Chapter 20 20.1-20.32, 20.D1-20.D2
Optical Properties Chapter 21 21.1-21.28, 21.D1
Economic/Environmental Considerations Chapter 22 22.D1-22.D4
Case Studies
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Automobile Valve Spring M.7-M.8 (ME Online Module) M.D14-MD.17 (ME Online Module)
Failure of an Automobile Rear Axle M.9-M.11 (ME Online Module)
Materials Selection—Torsionally Stressed M.12-M.13 (ME Online Module) M.D18-M.D23 (ME Online Module)
Cylindrical Shaft
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