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Ceramics and Brittle Materials (MREN90004)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Professor George Franks
Email: gvfranks@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Students are introduced to ceramics in structural, electronic, magnetic and functional applications. Students are introduced to crystal structures of ceramics, including defects such as vacancies and interstitials. The attributes and features of different classes of ceramics including clays and porcelains, oxides and mixed oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides are presented as well as the attributes and features of glasses, cements and zeolites. The role of flaws in ceramics and brittle materials mechanical behaviour including Weibull statistics and processing defects is explained. Current and developing processing techniques for ceramics including dry pressing, colloidal (wet) powder processing and drying are taught. The science and technology of controlling suspension behaviour such as rheology and particle packing is covered. Sintering, densification and grain growth mechanisms are elucidated. The typical properties of ceramics are presented and explanation is given as to why ceramics have such properties, including, melting temperatures, stiffness, strength, toughness, electrical and magnetic properties and thermal behaviour. How thermal stresses develop is described and why these are important in ceramics is explained. The students are introduced to brittle fracture including Griffith’s approach as well as toughening mechanisms including phase transformation and interlocking grains.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Analyse processing-structure-property relationships in ceramics and brittle materials
- Compare and select ceramic materials for structural, electronic, magnetic and optical applications
- Explain the fundamental concepts behind brittle fracture
- Explain how flaws and defects influence brittle material behaviour
- Recommend the most appropriate processing to minimise flaws and defects in advanced ceramic materials
- Manipulate phase equilibria and microstructural features to increase toughness
Generic skills
- Capacity for independent thought Awareness of advanced technologies in the discipline Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution The ability to comprehend complex concepts and communicate lucidly this understanding The ability to confront unfamiliar problems In-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline Ability to use a systems approach to design and operational performance Ability to plan work and to use time effectively Ability to apply engineering methods to solve complex problems.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
MCEN30017 Mechanics and Materials
AND
Advanced Concepts in Metals (can be taken concurrently)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Advanced concepts in materials science and engineering. Fundamental concepts in mechanics.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Written Assignment 1 (10%). Written assignment of no more than 5 pages (not including diagrams, graphs and raw data); overall time commitment of 13 hours; Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s) 1-6 assessed in the assignment. Due week 4
- Written Assignment 2 (10%). Written assignment of no more than 5 pages (not including diagrams, graphs and raw data); overall time commitment of 13 hours; Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s) 1-6 assessed in the assignment. Due Week 8
- Written Assignment 3 (10%). Written assignment of no more than 5 pages (not including diagrams, graphs and raw data); overall time commitment of 13 hours; Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s) 1-6 assessed in the assignment. Due week 12
- One three-hour end-of-semester written examination (70%), assesses Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 to 6. Held in the end-of-semester exam period.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator George Franks Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Four x 1-hour lectures and one x 1-hour tutorial per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 9 August 2019 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 Semester 2 contact information
Professor George Franks
Email: gvfranks@unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering, C. Barry Carter, M. Grant Norton, 2nd edition, 2013.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022