Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy

If you think your future lies in metallurgy, then join us and study advanced alloys, which will enable you to change the world.
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: F200 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Composite & Advanced Materials

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS31301
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 6
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Department of Materials
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The unit covers composite materials and structural ceramics and their mechanical behaviour.

Aims

The unit aims to:

  • Provide the student with an understanding of the principles underlying the behaviour of composite materials and advanced structural ceramics.
  • Introduce the basic micromechanics of long and short fibre composites.

 

Learning outcomes

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Intellectual skills
  • Practical skills
  • Transferable skills and personal qualities

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, group tutorials (problem sessions), recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), peer-assisted study sessions (PASS), practical laboratory classes.

 

 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Describe the nature and behaviour of composite materials.
  • Apply basic micromechanics to describe the mechanical properties of structural ceramics, particulate- and fibre- reinforced composites.
  • Apply basic modelling approaches to describe elastic and post yield behaviour of a range of composite materials.

 

Intellectual skills

  • Show improved logical reasoning, problem solving and ability in applied mathematics.
  • Apply simple models to predict the mechanical properties of composite materials.

Practical skills

  • Develop the ability to communicate scientific subjects

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Solve problems utilising methods learned in lecture.
  • Assess results critically by relating learned knowledge with current scientific papers.
 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 70%
Written assignment (inc essay) 30%

Feedback methods

Feedback given verbal and written

Recommended reading

“Introduction to Composite Materials”, D. Hull, T.W. Clyne. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996.
“Ceramic Matrix Composites”, K.K. Chawla, Chapman & Hall, 1993

  • “Introduction to Polymers”, Chapter 24, R.J. Young, P.A. Lovell, CRC Press, 2011
  • “Manufacturing Processes for Advanced Composites”, F.C. Campbell, Elsevier, 2004.
  • “Composite Materials: Functional Materials for Modern Technologies”, D. Chung, Springer, 2003.
  • “An Introduction to the Mechanical Properties of Ceramics”, David J. Green, Cambridge University Press, 1998.
  • Composite Materials: Engineering and Science, F. L. Matthews and R. D. Rawlings, 1994.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Practical classes & workshops 2
Independent study hours
Independent study 78

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Venkata Potluri Unit coordinator

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