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Unit of study_

MECH5304: Materials Failure

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Develop advanced knowledge and skills in diagnostic analyses of materials failure using advanced techniques; enhance students' ability in handling complex engineering cases using interdisciplinary technologies; and provide students an opportunity to understand project research.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MECH5304
Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Fundamental knowledge in materials science and engineering: 1) atomic and crystal structures 2) metallurgy 3) structure-property relationship 4) mechanics of engineering materials 5) solid mechanics

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Hongjian Wang, hong.j.wang@sydney.edu.au
Laboratory supervisor(s) Hongjian Wang, hong.j.wang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Hongjian Wang, hong.j.wang@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Ziyan Man, ziyan.man@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Quiz 1
Quiz
15% Week 07
Due date: 15 Sep 2022 at 10:00

Closing date: 15 Sep 2022
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment 1
Assignment
10% Week 07
Due date: 18 Sep 2022 at 23:59
5 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation Presentation on Failure Analysis Case Study (RE)/Presentation on Lab Work (CC)
Student presentations
10% Week 12 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assignment 2
Assignment
15% Week 12
Due date: 30 Oct 2022 at 23:59
5 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Quiz 2
Quiz
25% Week 13
Due date: 03 Nov 2022 at 10:00

Closing date: 03 Nov 2022
1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Engagement
Attendance
5% Week 13 30 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO5
Dissertation Perspective on Failure Analysis Case Study (RE)/Report on Lab Work (CC)
Report/Essay
10% Week 13 4 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Dissertation Case Study Notes (RE)/Laboratory Logbook (CC)
Annotated bibliography
10% Week 13 4 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Unless otherwise specified, all assignments must be uploaded to Canvas via Turnitin prior to the due date for submission

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Assignments/dissertations submitted after the due date for submission will receive a 10% of maximum grade penalty for every day late, or part thereof

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Materials Failure; Case studies start (RE) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Gain an overview of the types of material failure that affect mechanical and structural design; Learn the economic importance of fracture; Understand how the limitations on strength and ductility of materials are dealt with in engineering design; Develop an appreciation of how the development of new technology requires new materials and new methods of evaluating the mechanical behavior of materials Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Yielding and Fracture under Combined Stresses; Assignment 1 start Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Review the stress analysis regarding axial load, torsion, bending, and shear, as well as plane stress and plane strain transformation; Understand three basic failure theories; Develop and employ yield/fracture criteria for predicting failure under multiaxial stresses; Compare and discuss these basic criteria as to applicability and extensions Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Buckling Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Understand the concepts of critical load, ideal column and the effects of various supports on buckling; Become familiar with inelastic buckling and methods of designing both concentrically and eccentrically loaded columns Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Fracture of Cracked Members Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Understand the effects of cracks on materials and the concept of fracture toughness, KIc; Explore trends in KIc with different materials and different temperatures, loading rates and processings; Evaluate the effects of cracks in engineering components and analyze the effects of plasticity in cracked members, including plastic zone sizes, constraint effects due to plate thickness, and fully plastic limit loads Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Fatigue of Materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Understand the definitions and concepts of cyclic loading, sources of cyclic loading, and be familiar with laboratory testing in fatigue; analyze typical test data to obtain S-N curves and evaluate mean stress effects; explore the cyclic fatigue behavior of materials as a process of progressive damage leading to cracking and failure, including trends for stress level, geometry, surface condition, environment, and microstructure; apply engineering methods to estimate fatigue Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Fatigue Crack Growth Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Apply the stress intensity factor K of fracture mechanics to fatigue crack growth and to environmental crack growth; understand fatigue crack growth rate test methods and trends in fatigue crack growth behavior; Explore fatigue crack growth rate curves and evaluate stress ratio effects; Learn how to calculate the life to grow a fatigue crack to failure Independent study (12 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Quiz 1; Assignment 1 due; Assignment 2 start Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Creep Failure Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Explore time-dependent behavior and physical mechanisms for creep; Learn how to apply time-temperature parameters to estimate creep-rupture life; Review stress–strain–time models and relationships for engineering materials, and understand how to apply these to analysis of simple components Independent study (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Brittle vs. Ductile Fracture of Low Carbon Steel (CC) Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Corrosion and Degradation of Materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Understand the mechanisms and causes of corrosion and degradation for metals, ceramics and polymers; describe the common measures used to prevent corrosion; learn how to determine metal oxidation rate; Become familiar with the eight forms of corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement, the nature of their deteriorative process and the proposed mechanism Independent study (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Individual Presentation on Failure Analysis Case Study (RE) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Individual Presentation on Failure Analysis Case Study (RE) Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Buckling of Aluminum Tubes (CC) Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Individual Presentation on Failure Analysis Case Study (RE); Assignment 2 due Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Creep Behavior of Perspex (CC) Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Quiz 2; Individual Perspective on Failure Analysis Case Study due Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Group Presentation on Lab Work (CC) Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Students should attend at least 80% of all classes

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Failure Analysis Case Studies II

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Uncover and characterize failure processes and mechanisms of engineering materials and structures using various tools
  • LO2. Characterize materials failure using various failure theories
  • LO3. Describe and characterize multiscale structures (micro-/meso-/macro-structures) of engineering materials using various tools including microscopy
  • LO4. Understand the general relationship between mechanical performance and multiscale structures of engineering materials
  • LO5. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a team; plan and make decisions through effective communication

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1. ENABLING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
LO2
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1. ENABLING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
LO3
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1. ENABLING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
LO4
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1. ENABLING SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
LO5
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
3. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No significant changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.