Engineering Materials

ME 31 Engineering Materials Science

Research Project

(Project 2)

The purpose of this project is for you: 1) to gain experience with searching data resources on Engineering Materials; 2) learn how the structure-properties- processing interactions affect the selection and use of a particular material; 3) learn about the economics of materials selection and use. What you are to do is select a piece of tooling, specific workpiece, particular component, a simple product, etc. as the subject of your study (selection must be approved by the Instructor before the end of the first week after this assignment). For the product/component chosen you will need to determine the material specifications that were used for the material selection, e.g., 360-T6 aluminum alloy. Based on the stated specifications you are to provide, in your own words, a reason for choosing that material and the conditions specified. Additionally, you are to determine what are one or two most nearly equivalent substitutes (materials and conditions) for the original material and describe why the original material was chosen instead of either of those alternatives (compare, e.g., properties, availability, cost, fabrication, service life, etc.). The report should have a cover memo of transmittal followed by a two part report: main text and attached figures/tables. The format consists of characters with font size 12 (sans serif font), 19 to 25 mm margins, single line spacing, and should not exceed seven pages of text only (the number of pages of figures, tables, graphs or other illustrations is not restricted but should be appropriate to the number of pages of text; these figure, tables, and graphs should follow the text and should be properly called out and referred to in the text [e.g., Figure 1, Table I]). A typical technical report format should be used with appropriate (i.e., not ALL web- based) reference sources and citations included. Grading is as follows (200 points total):

25 pts – Cover memo 25 pts - Intro/thesis/roadmap 25 pts – Component identified 25 pts – Primary and secondary materials identified, described, etc. 25 pts - Main body/discussion 25 pts - Conclusion/wrap-up 25 pts - References/citations 25 pts - Figures/tables including sources

The final report should be presented in print form and also submitted in electronic form to the digital drop box of the course website.