UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Module Specification Sheet (MSS)
Module Title: Material Science Module code: MECH 1201 Year: 2017/2018

Level I Semester 2 Module Type: Core

Pre-requisite module (PR): None (Core/Elective)

Resource Person(s): UoM Credit ECSA Credit Weekly notional

Name B.Y.R. Surnam L. Sanassee 4 16 hrs: 10.67
Office Rm 2.11 Textile Level 7, Eng. Tower
Building
Email y.surnam@uom.ac.mu l.sanassee@uom.ac.mu
Tel 4037823
Module Coord: B.Y.R. Surnam Prog Coord: S. Venkannah
Office: Rm 2.11 Textile Building Office: Level 5 Eng. Tower
Email: y.surnam@uom.ac.mu Email: sv@uom.ac.mu
Tel: 4037823
Academic activities Lecture Tutorial Practical Assignment(s) Others
(13 weeks) (9 weeks) (avg. over Theme Demo
15 weeks)
Weekly Load (hrs) 3 2 0.8 (7 hrs BS Hours 2
+ 5 hrs ES)
Multiplier, M 2 2 2 Type
Classification of Mathematics Basic Sciences Engineering Design & Complementary
Knowledge areas (MS) (BS) Sciences (ES) Synthesis (DS) Studies (CS)
% 50 50
Actual 8 8
ECSA
credit
Problem Application knowledge Investigations, Engineerin Professional Impact of Individual, team Independen Engineering
ECSA solving of Engineering experiments g methods, & technical engineeri and t Professionalis
Exit Level scientific design and and data skills, tools communicati ng multidisciplinar learning m
and synthesis analysis and IT on activity y work ability
Outcomes engineering
: marked Knowledge
with a ‘D’
(Develop
mental) D
or ‘E’ for
‘Exit’, if
assessed.
Assessment details: Coursework details Examination details
Type No % Section:
Exam: 60 % Test(s) 2 15+20 No. of questions to be answered: 4/5
Coursework: 40 % Practical(s) 1 5 Multiple Choice Questions: None
Assignment(s) Compulsory Questions (if any): 4/5
Others Paper Duration: 3 hrs

Prepared by Examiner Verified by Moderator

Name

Signature

Date

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 Module Details
1. Aims

 To learn about the fundamentals of materials.

 To learn about the different types of engineering materials – their properties and
applications.
 To learn about the microstructure and heat treatment of metals.

2. Outline Syllabus

Introduction to materials; family of materials , atomic structure and types of bonding , crystal
types and space arrangements of atoms, direction and planes in crystals, defects in crystals,
diffusion in solids; Mechanical properties of materials, stress, strain and mechanical testing
(strength, toughness, ductility, fatigue, creep and hardness), plastic deformation, solid
solution strengthening, recrystallization; Metals, ferrous, non-ferrous, alloys; The heat
treatment of steel, Fe- C phase diagram, equilibrium cooling, hardening and tempering of
steel; Polymers; Composite materials, fibre reinforced polymeric composites; Concrete,
asphalt, bitumen; Ceramics; Nano-materials.

3. Module Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, students should be able to:
 Understand and identify the properties of different types of materials.
 Use their knowledge acquired to assess material engineering problems.
 Effectively apply their knowledge to solve real world material related engineering problems.

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4. Module Map

Wk(s) Hr(s) Lecture Main Topics Lectures, Knowledge Areas

Theme(s) Lecture Title(s) Tutorials,
Basic Engineering Design & Complement
Assignments, Mathematics
Science Science Synthesis ary Studies
Test
1 3 Introduction to materials; Introduction and Atomic Lecture
family of materials , atomic Structure and Atomic Bonding +
To read Callister- Chapter 1 Tutorial
structure and types of bonding
2,3 4.5 Crystal types and space Fundamentals of Structure of Lecture
arrangements of atoms, Crystalline Solids +
To read Callister- Chapter 2- Tutorial
Atomic Structure and (2 sessions)
Interatomic Bonding
4 3 Direction and planes in Structure of Crystalline Solids
crystals To read Callister- Chapter 3-
X
The Structure of Crystalline
Solids
5 3 Defects in crystals and Imperfections in Solids and Lecture
diffusion in solids diffusion
To read Callister- Chapter 4-
Imperfections in Solids
6 3 Phase diagrams Phase diagram and phase Lecture
transformation +
To read Callister- Chapter 9- Tutorial
Phase Diagrams (2 sessions)
7,8 4.5 Mechanical properties of Mechanical properties of Lecture
materials, stress, strain and materials +
To read Callister- Chapter 6 & Tutorial
mechanical testing (strength, 7- Mechanical Properties of X
toughness, ductility, fatigue, Metals & Dislocations and
creep and hardness), plastic Strengthening
deformation Mechanisms

3
 8 Test Test (test
week)
9,10, 9 Metals, ferrous, non-ferrous, Metals and their alloys Lecture X
11 alloys, Fe- C phase diagram To read Callister- Chapter 11- +
Applications and Processing of Tutorial (2)
The heat treatment of steel, Metal Alloys
phase transformations
12 3 Polymers; Composite Characteristics and Applications Lecture
materials, fibre reinforced of Polymers +
To read Callister- Chapter 14 & Tutorial and
polymeric composites 15- Polymer Structures &
Processes + Test Test
Characteristics, Applications,
and
Processing of Polymers
13 3 Concrete, asphalt, bitumen Applications and Properties of Lecture
Concrete, Asphalt and Bitumen

14 3 Ceramics; Nano-materials Applications and Properties of Lecture

Ceramics and nano-materials

Tutorials would be corrected in tutorial classes.

Tutorial classes would be organised separately (from lectures).
Lectures for weeks 1 to 13 would be performed by B.Y.R. Surnam and weeks 14 and 15 would be serviced by L. Sannassee.

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5. Essay(s)/Assignment(s)/Labwork(s)

Title Maximum Marks Last Submission Date

Practical sessions
Metallographic analysis of steel samples and 5% End of week 14
hardness testing
Demo
Demonstration sessions would be organised in the - Not applicable
field of testing of materials with the Universal
Testing Machine.

Penalties for late submission:

2 marks cut off per day

6. Recommended books/journals/websites
- Callister’s Materials Science and Engineering,

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7. Specific Developmental Outcomes

What is satisfactory performance?

ELO Targeted Developmental Outcome How is outcome assessed?
ELO 2 Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural Assessment would be performed through the Student should be able to:
sciences, engineering fundamentals and examination. This would consist of at least one (i)Do basic calculations on atomic structure,
an engineering speciality to solve mini-case study in which students would be crystal structure, phase changes or phase
complex engineering problems. required to apply their knowledge of natural transformations.
 A systematic, theory-based sciences and engineering fundamentals to solve (ii) Use their knowledge acquired in natural
understanding of the natural sciences a complex engineering problem. sciences and apply the same to solve engineering
applicable to the discipline; problems.
 A systematic, theory-based formulation Overall pass mark of 50%.
of engineering fundamentals required in
the engineering discipline;
 Engineering specialist knowledge that
provides theoretical frameworks and
bodies of knowledge for the accepted
practice areas in the engineering
discipline.

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8. Additional Information
Health & Safety Issues
Students have to strictly abide by the general health & safety issues prevailing on the university
campus.

Students are reminded that they have to be very conversant with the specific health and safety
precautionary measures for each laboratory.

Students have to maintain their respective health and safety gears in good condition at all times.

For further information on health and safety regulations in force at the University of Mauritius,
please visit the following webpage:
http://www.uom.ac.mu/Faculties/foe/MPED/html/health.html