CHEMMAT 121 : Materials Science
Engineering
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Deformation and structure of solids
Stress and strain, ductility, brittleness, the tensile test, Young's modulus, yield strength, UTS, grains, dislocations, theoretical vs actual strength, concept of slip, plasticity crystal structure, planes, directions, slip systems, elasticity, Poisson's ratio. Brief introduction to engineering ceramics.
Phase diagrams and Alloying
Concept of a phase, solid solubility, binary systems, eutectic and eutectoid alloy systems.
Strengthening mechanisms
Strengthening mechanisms; solid solution, dispersion and eutectic strengthening, age-hardening of aluminium alloys, heat treatment of steels to optimize mechanical properties.
Polymers
Polymer structure, polymerisation mechanisms, amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers, thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, time/temperature, viscoelasticity and mechanical properties.
Failure of materials
Ductile and brittle fracture, fracture mechanics, toughness, ductile-brittle transition temperature, fatigue, creep.
Corrosion of metals
Principles of corrosion, influence of environment, control and prevention of corrosion in engineering situations,stainless steels, corrosion and stress. of corrosion in engineering situations, stainless steels, corrosion and stress.
Engineering composites
Mechanical properties of composite materials: simple laminates, rule of mixtures, continuous versus discontinuous fibre composites, interface mechanics, critical length, shear stress transfer, failure mechanisms, toughness, wood.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
Learning Outcomes
- Introduce deformation and structure of solids: Students will be able to describe, sketch, compare and explain the relevance of crystal structures to mechanical properties such as yield, slip and work-hardening They will be able to meaningfully define, describe, analyse and evaluate mechanical property data (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Have a basic understanding of phase diagrams and alloying: Students will be able to describe, classify, sketch and analyse phase diagrams. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Have a basic understanding of strengthening mechanisms: Students will be able to understand how the Al-Cu phase diagram and manipulation by heat treatment can produce high strength aluminium-based alloys. They will be able to understand how the Fe-C phase diagram and manipulation by heat treatment can produce a range of steels relevant to engineering applications. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Have a basic understanding of the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties: understanding the process of annealing by being able to describe the 3 stages and how each relates to structural changes influencing mechanical property changes. Will be able to show how grains relate to crystallography and how grains change their morphology with deformation and annealing. Able to prove that they understand microstructure by being able to explain how it influences bulk mechanical properties. Able to explain the work hardening process in terms of dislocations and plastic flow. Electrical properties of metals. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Identify and describe engineering ceramics: Students will be able to describe the structures of common engineering ceramics and basic properties. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Have a basic understanding of engineering polymers: Students will be able to understand the structural basis of thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers; to be able to predict thermal, mechanical and other physical properties from an understanding of structure. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Have a basic understanding of engineering composites: Students will be able to describe simple composite structures; solve isostress and isostrain problems for simple aligned fibre-reinforced composites; understand structural basis of composite failure and toughness. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
- Recognise and interpret the failure of materials: Students will be able to understand the concepts of ductile, brittle and fast fracture in relation to structure; be able to predict the susceptibility of a material to failure, to carry out simple fracture mechanics analysis in terms of crack size; to understand modes of failure associated with fatigue and creep loading. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| Test (s) | 18% | Individual Test |
| Assignments | 21% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratories | 11% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Test (s) | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
Notes:
- A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
- Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
- Late submissions penalties will be applied as listed on Canvas.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 38 hours of lectures (4 Lec/wk) , 6hrs of lab activities, 54 hours of reading and revision of the content and 52 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the test(s).
In-person Exam is expected.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
The course has been evaluating different assessments in 2023 and 2024 and reviewing the comments around inclusion for 2025.
Student feedback has allowed us to improve the accessibility in some of the quiz questions.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Canvas will include details of the Engineering Part 1 class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.