Course Catalogue

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This course provides an opportunity to learn about the nature of a range of materials common to engineering and technology from more traditional materials through to modern smart material systems.

Weekly: one hour seminar; one hour tutorial or one hour materials testing lab.

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The investigation in this course allows students to develop and apply research and investigation. The degree examination tests knowledge and understanding of various materials and engineering processes

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The aim of this course is to give an overview of common materials used for product manufacture and engineering. The course should allow students to understand the structure and properties of materials, how these influence design, as well as the manufacturing processes associated with the given materials.

This course enables students to have the knowledge to meet the GTCS Standard for Provisional Registration as follows:

2.1.1 Have knowledge and understanding of the nature of the curriculum and its development

2.1.2 Have knowledge and understanding of the relevant area(s) of pre-school, primary or secondary curriculum

2.1.4 Have knowledge and understanding of contexts for learning to fulfil their responsibilities in literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing and interdisciplinary learning

3.1.1 Plan coherent, progressive and stimulating teaching programmes which match learners' needs and abilities

3.1.2 Communicate effectively and interact productively with learners, individually and collectively

The course will also develop the following graduate attributes: Subject Specialists; Investigative; Resourceful and Responsible; Confident; Adaptable.

By the end of the course the students will be able to:-

■ Demonstrate understanding of the basic structure and properties of materials and the importance of these in design.

■ Explain the nature of materials and their behaviour under load and identify which properties of materials are relevant in a range of contexts.

■ Investigate the properties of one material and justify its use in a product, comparing its properties to other appropriate materials.

■ Explain the nature of: common steels and alloys, plastics and composites, and smart materials.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment. 80% attendance regulation applies. Students must achieve a minimum of D3.