Electrical and Mechanical Materials

Module overview

This module equips students with a comprehensive understanding of how mechanical systems move and deform when subjected to external forces. We then progress to advanced topics including buckling and deformation of mechanical structures such as beams and cantilevers. The second part of the module covers materials response to applied electric and magnetic fields, e.g. polarisation and conduction in dielectrics, magnetisation and ferromagnetism. Materials for novel and emerging applications are considered as well, e.g. high-voltage cable insulations, electret materials, triboelectric series, piezo-electricity, ferro-electricity, pyroelectricity. The module includes one laboratory analysis covering dielectric material characterisation and one laboratory experiments on deformation of beams. Students will be supported by examples and tutorial questions with many real-life practical examples.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Electromechanical properties of matter.
Conduction and polarisation mechanisms in insulators.
Properties of magnetic materials for electromechanical systems.
Basics of beams and structural analysis.
The physical and engineering principles underlying the response of materials to electric and magnetic fields.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Select suitable materials for engineering applications
Understand materials structure and properties
Calculate beam deflection .
Analyse simple mechanical systems.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Relate structure and composition to material magnetic properties
Determine the electrical properties of materials.
Explain the design principles for simple mechanical devices

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

The content of this module is delivered through lectures, module website, directed reading, pre-recorded materials and tutorials. Students work on their understanding through a combination of independent study, preparation for timetabled activities, tutorials and problem classes, along with laboratories. Students work on their practical skills and technical understanding in technical laboratories.

Study time
Type	Hours
Follow-up work	18
Wider reading or practice	51
Preparation for scheduled sessions	9
Revision	18
Lecture	36
Tutorial	12
Specialist Laboratory	6
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Spaldin N, (2003). Magnetic Materials Fundamentals and Device Applications. Cambridge University Press.

Anderson J, Leaver K D, Rawlings R D & Alexander J M (1990). Materials Science. Chapman & Hall.

Beer F.P . (2016). Vector mechanics for engineers: Statics and dynamics. McGraw-Hill Education.

Bedford A., Liechti K. M. (2020). Mechanics of Materials. Springer.

Solymar L & Walsh D (1993). Lectures on the Electrical Properties of Materials. OUP.

P. P. Benham; R. J. Crawford; C. G. Armstrong (1996). Mechanics of engineering materials. Longman/Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Blythe A (2005). Electrical Properties of Polymers. Cambridge University Press.

Hibbeler R. C. (2017). Mechanics of materials. Pearson.

Assessment

Assessment strategy

This module is assessed by a combination of practical laboratories and a final assessment in the form of a written examination.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Laboratory	10%
Written exam	90%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Written exam	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Written exam	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External