Module overview
Linked modules
Pre-requisite: FEEG2005
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Describe failure micromechanisms occurring for a range of service conditions
- Assess likely service failures for a range of service conditions
- Propose appropriate lifing methodologies for service applications
- Identify appropriate testing approaches to evaluate materials' service performance
- Critically analyse the factors affecting component/structure performance
- Analyse complex service failure problems and apply the correct fracture mechanics approach
- Relate these failure micromechanisms to optimised materials microstructures
Full CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- The coursework is a manufacturing case study, where the students are provided with contemporary literature (Journal review article and ATI/InnovateUK technical report), from which they must identify information that falls within their understanding (from the module and their prior engineering understanding) and perform cross-referencing to open literature (the service condition of certain parts), to then address three specific manufacturing problems.
- Throughout the module the multi-disciplinary nature of failure processes requires various mathematical representations, physical science and engineering reality to be discussed, and then tested in the exam. Knowledge of the forefront is introduced via analysis methods (including specialised FE approaches, novel 3D assessment of structure/fractography) and application areas (e.g. failure analysis in the context of additive manufacturing).
- Risk of loss of life in failure events is discussed via an in-room class exercise, to highlight societal perceptions of risk for engineering and non-engineering activities (e.g. air travel, sports activities, pregnancy).
- Course content and final exam directly address aspects of materials selection, manufacturing choices, inspection methods, service environment and risk, in relation to different failure processes. Engineering judgement and reaching conclusions is specifically covered and assessed via the coursework, requiring the students to make engineering recommendations for novel manufacture of engineering components in the light of academic and industrial literature.
- Students are taught a range of fracture mechanics principles and analysis methods (inc linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), long and short fatigue crack lifing, Weibull statistics), with clear indications of limitation (e.g. detailed validity criteria linked to LEFM, LEFM accommodation in short fatigue crack analysis). These points are tested within exam questions.
- Implications of uncertainty are addressed, and quantification methods discussed, for: fatigue lifing of parts/structures, and statistical treatment of failure in intrinsically brittle systems (particularly engineering ceramics), which are tested by exam questions.
- The coursework is a manufacturing case study, requiring consideration of potential use of additive manufacturing for specific engineering applications: candidates are given information to assess failure performance for AM (and non-AM) processing, and they are asked to provide a critical analysis of AM use (identifying favourable and unfavourable failure characteristics).
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Issues involved in predicting the fatigue strength of a component, bolted structure and welded Structure
- In-service performance of commercial materials and be able to extend this to the performance of composite systems
- Why components/structures can give unsatisfactory service
- What can be done to improve the in-service performance of components/structures, and thus promoting sustainable development through extending service lifetimes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Assess fractographic images in some detail
- Predict how a component/structure would behave under given service conditions
- Predict the fatigue strength of a component with a complex geometry, a bolted structure and a welded structure.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Analyse key factors influencing materials failure: evaluate complex materials/structural failure situations and propose appropriate engineering solutions
- Work as materials specialist within a design context
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Lecture | 32 |
Seminar | 1 |
Revision | 28 |
Completion of assessment task | 16 |
Wider reading or practice | 70 |
Tutorial | 3 |
Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Quiz
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Classroom quiz feedback is via group discussion of model answers.
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Continuous Assessment | 20% |
Final Assessment | 80% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 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.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External