Materials Science & Engineering
MTE 510/ME 5310. Principles of Materials Science and Engineering
This course provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental principles of materials science and engineering. The classical interplay among structure-processing-properties-performance in materials including plastics, metals, ceramics, glasses and composites will be emphasized. The structure in materials ranging from the subatomic to the macroscopic, including nano-, micro- and macromolecular structures, will be discussed to highlight bonding mechanisms, crystallinity and defect patterns. Representative thermodynamic and kinetic aspects such as diffusion, phase diagrams, nucleation and growth, and TTT diagrams will be discussed. Basics of elasticity, plastic deformation and viscoelasticity will be highlighted. Salient aspects pertaining to the corrosion and environmental degradation of materials will be discussed. This course will provide the background for students in any engineering or science major for future course and research work in materials. (Prerequisites: senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)
MTE/MFE 520. Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Processes
The first half of the course covers the axiomatic design method applied to simultaneous product and process design for concurrent engineering, with emphasis on process and manufacturing tool design. Basic design principles as well as qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis of designs are developed. The second half of the course addresses methods of engineering analysis of manufacturing processes, to support machine tool and process design. Basic types of engineering analysis are applied to manufacturing situations including elasticity, plasticity, heat transfer, mechanics and cost analysis. Special attention will be given to the mechanics of machining (traditional, nontraditional and grinding) and the production of surfaces. Students, with the advice and consent of the professor, select the topic for their term project.
MTE 525/ME 5325. Advanced Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics of solutions—phase equilibria— Ellingham diagrams, binary and ternary phase diagrams, reactions between gasses and condensed phases, reactions within condensed phases, thermodynamics of surfaces, defects and electrochemistry. Applications to chemical thermodynamics as well as heat engines. (Prerequisites: ES 3001, ME 4850 or equivalent.) Offered each year.
MTE 530/ME 5330. Crystallography, Diffraction and Microscopy of Materials
The fundamentals of crystallography and X-ray diffraction of metals, ceramics and polymers will be presented and discussed. The techniques for the experimental determination of phase fraction and phase identification via X-ray diffraction will be highlighted. The theory and practice of optical and electron microscopy will also be included. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy will be theoretically and experimentally investigated. (Prerequisites: ES 200 or equivalent, and senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)
MTE 540/ME 5340. Analytical Methods in Materials Engineering
Heat transfer and diffusion kinetics are applied to the solution of materials engineering problems. Mathematical and numerical methods for the solutions to Fourier's and Pick's laws for a variety of boundary conditions will be presented and discussed. The primary emphasis is given heat treatment and surface modification processes. Topics to be covered include solutionizing, quenching, and carburization heat treatment. (Prerequisites: ME 4840 or MTE 510 or equivalent.)
MTE 550/ME 5350. Phase Transformations in Materials
This course is intended to provide a fundamental understanding of thermodynamic and kinetic principles associated with phase transformations. The mechanisms of phase transformations will be discussed in terms of driving forces to establish a theoretical background for various physical phenomena. The principles of nucleation and growth and spinodal transformations will be described. The theoretical analysis of diffusion controlled and interface controlled growth will be presented The basic concepts of martensitic transformations will be highlighted. Specific examples will include solidification, crystallization, precipitation, sintering, phase separation and transformation toughening. (Prerequisites: MTE 510, ME 4850 or equivalent.)
MTE 560/ME 5360. MaterialsPerformance and Reliability
The failure and wear-out mechanisms for a variety of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites and microelectronics) and applications will be presented and discussed. Multi-axial failure theories will be discussed. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate the basic failure mechanisms of plastic deformation, creep, fracture, fatigue, wear and corrosion. The methodology and techniques for reliability analysis will also be presented and discussed. A materials systems approach will be used. (Prerequisites: ES 2502 and ME 3023 or equivalent, and senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)
MTE/ME/BME 554. Composites withBiomedical and Materials Applications
Introduction to fiber/particulate reinforced, engineered and biologic materials. This course focuses on the elastic description and application of materials that are made up of a combination of submaterials, i.e., composites. Emphasis will be placed on the development of constitutive equations that define the mechanical behavior of a number of applications including biomaterial, tissue and materials science. (Prerequisites: Understanding of stress analysis and basic continuum mechanics.)
MTE 555. Food Engineering
An introductory course on the structure, processing, and properties of food. Topics covered include: food structure and rheology, plant and animal tissues, texture, glass transition, gels, emulsions, micelles, food additives, food coloring, starches, baked goods, mechanical properties, elasticity, viscoelastic nature of food products, characteristics of food powders, fat eutectics, freezing and cooking of food, manufacturing processes, cereal processing, chocolate manufacture, microbial growth, fermentation, transport phenomena in food processing, kinetics, preserving and packaging of food, testing of food. Recommended Background: ES 2001 or equivalent. This course will be offered in D term 2007.
MTE 580. Materials Science and Engineering Seminar
Reports on the state-of-the-art in various areas of research and development in materials science and engineering will be presented by the faculty and outside experts. Reports on graduate student research in progress will also be required.
MTE 5815. Ceramics and Glasses for Engineering Applications
This course develops an understanding of the processing, structure, property, performance relationships in crystalline and vitreous ceramics. The topics covered include crystal structure, glassy structure, phase diagrams, microstructures, mechanical properties, optical properties, thermal properties, and materials selection for ceramic materials. In addition the methods for processing ceramics for a variety of products will be included. Recommended background: ES 2001 or equivalent. This course will be offered in the fall of 2006.
MTE/MFE/ME 5841. Surface Metrology
This course emphasizes research applications of advanced surface metrology, including the measurement and analysis of surface roughness. Surface metrology can be important in a wide variety of situations including adhesion, friction, catalysis, heat transfer, mass transfer, scattering, biological growth, wear and wetting. These situations impact practically all the engineering disciplines and sciences. The course begins by considering basic principles and conventional analyses, and methods. Measurement and analysis methods are critically reviewed for utility. Students learn advanced methods for differentiating surface textures that are suspected of being different because of their performance or manufacture. Students will also learn methods for making correlations between surface textures and behavioral and manufacturing parameters. The results of applying these methods can be used to support the design and manufacture of surface textures, and to address issues in quality assurance. Examples of research from a broad range of applications are presented, including, food science, pavements, friction, adhesion, machining and grinding. Students do a major project of their choosing, which can involve either an in-depth literature review, or surface measurement and analysis. The facilities of WPI's Surface Metrology Laboratory are available for making measurements for selected projects. Software for advanced analysis methods is also available for use in the course. No previous knowledge of surface metrology is required. Students should have some background in engineering, math or science.
MTE 5842. Corrosion and Corrosion Control
Advanced topics in corrosion. Stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen effects on metals. High-temperature oxidation, carburization and sulfidation. Discussions focus on current corrosive engineering problems and research. Course may be offered by special arrangement.
As arranged
Theoretical or experimental studies in subjects of interest to graduate students in materials science and engineering. See the SUPPLEMENT section of the on-line catalog at www.wpi.edu/Catalogs/ Grad/ for descriptions of courses to be offered in this academic year.
Research
As arranged
Additional acceptable courses, 4000 series, may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.
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