3rd Asian Materials Education Symposium: Posters
Poster Abstracts
An Enhanced Crystal Structure Model for Simulating Stress and Strain
Dr. Kyozo Arimoto, Arimotech
Understanding intuitively stress and strain in a solid may not be easy, since materials are regarded as continuum in introductory classes for the mechanics of materials. When the solid is crystalline, models composed of hard balls and bars have been used to explain its structure. However, Gordon devised a model in which rods were replaced by springs, and illustrated stress and elastic strain by applied loads to the model and induced deformation in springs, respectively. On the other hand, Yoshida applied resilient balls for DIY accessories made of synthetic fibers to molecular models of water and carbon dioxide, because they are reasonable and easy to be assembled with adhesive. Also, they can express various kinds of atoms since they have several diameters in the range of 8 to 50 mm and several colors: red, white, black, blue, violet, yellow etc.
Steal ideas for marine engineering research from multidisciplinary teaching
Mr Wu Ping , Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Teach what we research is a healthy practice that links classroom activities with laboratory investigations, which is especially true for materials educations at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Nowadays, teaching does not only play a passive role in receiving and presenting knowledge, instead, it grows into an active part of the process for research idea generation, due to the multidisciplinary nature of materials research. The speaker taught 4 materials relevant subjects in the Singapore University of Technology and Design: (1) Physical chemistry (undergraduate), (2) Structure and materials (undergraduate), (3) Applied thermodynamics (graduate), and (4) Functional materials (graduate). As an example, the speaker will demonstrate how his teaching of these courses inspired him to form new marine engineering research fields, and how he paid back to these four classrooms with obtained innovative real-world solutions. Before the reality of advanced artificial intelligence which may find new research themes and paradigms by machine learning, human intelligence is still the driver for multidisciplinary research, therefore, materials education can play an active role in knowledge discovery and technology advancement.
References: 1. Shu, G.G., et al., Study of Wetting on Chemically Softening Interfaces by Using Combined Solution Thermodynamics and DFT Calculations: Forecasting Effective Softening Elements. Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015. 7(14): p. 7576-7583. 2. Wu, P., et al., Temperature-dependent modulus of resilience in metallic solids – Calculated from strain-electron-phonon interactions. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2017. 705: p. 269-272. 3. Wu, P., An entropic equation to calculate contact angles of bulk water droplets on weakly-reactive solid surfaces. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2017. 722: p. 190-195. 4. Jeong, J.I., et al., Super anticorrosion of aluminized steel by a controlled Mg supply. Scientific Reports, 2018. 8(1): p. 3760.
Playing with Phase Diagrams
Dr. Dandan Zhu, Granta Design
As part of the new Materials Science and Engineering Package, that supports Introductory level materials teaching, the interactive Phase Diagram tool supports student learning on:
The vocabulary of phase diagrams
The Phases present in key systems
What happens as different compositions cool
How the Lever Rule works
This is supplemented by a teach-yourself Phase Diagrams booklet and 11 other static Phase Diagrams, which are linked to related elements and materials.
The MS&E Package is now available for everyone with CES EduPack 2018 to use but is still a Pre-release database. We would really like attendees of the symposium to come and play with it and give feedback in the Poster Room. Also, please let us know which 3 Phase Diagrams we should add next year…
Application of CES EduPack in Teaching Public Selective Course at USTB
Mrs. Xinxin Li, University of Science and Technology Beijing
CES EduPack has been applied in public selective courses at USTB since 2016. In the course entitled “Materials Selection” which is at introductory level for undergraduate students, the students are from both engineering and non-engineering background, mostly in the 1st and the 2nd year. The course is of 16 sessions which equal 1 credit. The number of student enrollment of the class ranges from 29 to 54 in each term. The purpose of the course is to inspire students from all majors the interest in materials, to illustrate principles and methodologies as well as to make students think by themselves about the materials and environment. CES EduPack has been used as a live textbook to engage undergraduate students in learning primary knowledge about material property, process, LCA and eco-audit in this course. The teacher blends the teaching and practice of CES EduPack during the class based on basic projects. Granta Education Hub is also helping the teacher and students in getting additional relative resources. After taking the course, students gain primary principles and methodologies in materials selection with the use of CES EduPack, get interested in thinking by themselves about materials and most importantly acquire the idea of LCA and eco-audit. The eco-responsibility of the engineer is becoming an essential part in the course emphasized by the teacher in every project.
Materials Driven Innovations: Two case study perspectives
Dr. Grace Dixon, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
The perspectives of product developers and technology innovators differ in goals and processes and as such, are often taught separately. Since a major goal of materials development is to drive technological performance breakthroughs or advance product development, it is critical to incorporate within the materials education curriculum the ability to perceive the differences and innovate from both perspectives. We suggest deploying case studies in the classroom to explore existing approaches that have been used to apply fundamental materials knowledge and translate it towards developing ideas for new technologies or products to solve complex engineering problems and/or unmet societal needs. Although the utility of materials advances can be difficult to predict (e.g., development of the Post-It Note© by 3M and Gorilla® Glass by Corning), a systematic case approach to innovation through differing perspectives will be introduced to the students. The concepts introduced and covered by these case studies will be put into practice and evaluated as part of the measurable outcome of the two projects for a class: (1) Software-based methodology for selecting materials for a new product to meet specific application needs, and (2) Prototypes using shape memory materials, where the inclusion of such materials can markedly advance product or application design. Students will be encouraged throughout the projects to think though their solutions from the two perspectives exemplified in the case studies. Their outcomes will be then be benchmarked against past projects that have been driven by singular perspectives to see if student learning has been improved.
Graded Textile Shaping – Design of Graded Textile Preforms for Curved Cladding Panels
Mr. Ying Yi Tan, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
This research introduces Graded Textile Shaping, an alternative fabrication strategy to create curved building cladding panels out of textile reinforced polymer composites. It uses a customised knitted textile preform composed out of glass fiber yarns to function as both a flexible mould and a reinforcement layer. The workflow first involves the design and manufacture of the knitted textile preform using CNC-knitting technology. Next, we insert bending-active members into tubular sleeves along the textile’s edges to shape the planar surface into its desired curved geometry. Once done, we spray thermosetting isophthalic polyester resin onto the surface to solidify it into a solid panel. From this, the approach aims to alleviate the material and manpower consumption in mould-making and wet lay-up processes used for glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite panel production. Our work investigates the use of CNC-knitting technology to design differentiated stitch patterns within a textile preform for this architectural application. It explores the hypothetical notion where knitted textiles can bridge between shape-ability and final component strength. For this, we examine variations of the Rib – a commonly used pattern for knitted textile composites. We believe that localised modifications such as tucking of the loops and/or racking the needle bed can restrict or loosen the knit. Thus, this produces regions of directionally aligned stiffness/elasticity within the textile preform. This poster presents several variations of the Rib stitch that are assessed through its mechanical performance and geometric shaping. We first infuse glass-fiber knitted textiles with polymer resin. These composites undergo testing for its tensile and flexural strength/modulus as benchmarked to the GFRP cladding panels based on ASTM standards. Next, we design the textile to conform to a series of small-scale singly and doubly curved geometries edge-shaped by bending-active strips. We further spray resin onto the surface to solidify them into composite panels.
The myth of freeform fabrication – Challenges in additive manufacturing
Prof. Jorge Luis, Escola Superior Aveiro Norte
Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are becoming more attractive for industrial purposes to produce small sets of complex shaped pieces. Contrary to subtractive technologies, AM takes full advantage of state-of-the-art technologies by converting virtual models in real three-dimensional objects in a layer-by-layer fashion. Although this bottom up approach allows numerous creative possibilities, some challenges are issued due to its novelty in some industrial environment. Some educational centres are starting to use AM technologies for educational purposes. Formation of skilled technicians versed in the AM process seems to make sense, because AM competencies are multidisciplinary, involving product design, digital modelling, material properties and processing. Although part of the AM process is similar among AM technologies, processing ceramics by robocasting is different from processing polymer melts by fused deposition modelling, liquid resins by stereolithography and binder jet or powder by 3D printing or selective laser sintering. Also, AM technologies specificities can be useful to help learn material science and technology. However, there is a lack in understanding the differences between products obtained by traditional processes and those obtained through AM, and how can those differences be taken in advantage in product development. AM technologies freeform infinite possibilities may somewhat be limited to the technology specificities and material to be processed. An object like a mug may present different building constraints depending on the AM technology, software, design and material used, but clever design strategies may be employed to ease the fabrication process. Teaching AM oriented design may prove to be useful to surpass these challenges, the students can be guided from different building materials, with their intrinsic properties, to experience the different AM technologies. From that standpoint, explaining the properties that allows the materials to be processed by certain AM technologies, is valuable as a teaching resource to teach material science and technology.
Developing “An Introduction to Engineering” course for freshmen with a general engineering background
Dr. Hui Xing, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
“An Introduction to Engineering” is an overview course for freshmen undergraduates in engineering disciplines. Similar to the course “Engineering 100” at University of Michigan, this course is to simulate a real world engineering environment where teamwork, communication and creativity are the key components to be a practicing engineer. Half of the one-semester course is designed to be a course project, which allows students to work as a team to carry out a small innovative project. The rest of the course is composed of 30% of classroom lectures + 10% of classroom practice + 10% of project tour. Our experiences suggest that the practice is worthwhile and successful. In my classroom teaching, examples of the great engineering technologies that change the world and benefit mankind are given, together with examples of several super engineering projects created in China in the recent decades. The CES EduPack software is applied to teach selection of specific materials according to an engineering objective. The database and the interface help students understand the types and choices of materials in engineering and mechanical design. The course project is a major part of the course and the students are guided to follow a procedure of project proposals, decision making, implementation and technical reports. The theme of course project in my class is "Music and Engineering". Students are encouraged to design an instrument according to personal interest and available materials and use 3D printing, sheet metal folding and laser cutting etc. to create an music box or musical instrument. From the students’ feedback, the course is very innovative and practical, fun and challenging. Besides the engineering skills and the relationship between engineering and science, ideas of the responsibilities and ethics of engineers are also gained. This course cultivates students’ innovation, teamwork, and engineering thinking.
Tokyo Tech engineering design projects and material selection education
Prof. Kazuaki Inaba, Tokyo Institute of Technology
From 2015, Tokyo Institute of Technology has started a project-based-learning (PBL) class called "Engineering Design Project (EDP)". Based on the theme proposed from a cooperative company, we conduct the cycle of design thinking "Empathize", "Define", "Ideate", "Prototype", and "Test". 8 to 10 teams of 5 to 6 people are challenging tasks. Students from the University of Arts and adult students from the software companies join the team. Ultimately, the team will struggle for half a year with the aim of realizing the user scenario corresponding to "user experience" and the prototype corresponding to "product". I am teaching the material selection course before the projects. Here, I would like to discuss what is the effective material education for the students belonging to engineering design course to produce innovative products and services.
Advanced Industrial Case Studies for CES EduPack
Mr. Marc Fry, Granta Design
Many engineering courses and higher education programmes relate to knowledge and understanding about materials and their properties. It is easy to see that current and interesting topics can be used to engage students using realistic cases. The more realistic the case study, the better it is. By revisiting the materials options available to the designers of interesting products, we seek to understand the pros and cons of these options and their consequences. CES EduPack provides, not only, a rational and systematic approach to materials selection, but also has useful eco/sustainability data and tools for green engineering and eco design. These will be essential for the purposes of teaching and training the work force of the future. The available databases enable informed materials-related decisions in many specialized areas. In this poster, we showcase some advanced industrial case studies available to educators with CES EduPack licenses. For example: Aerospace: Space shuttle fuel tanks and Mars lander; Consumer electronics: Tablet devices; Biomaterials: Polymer implants and bioglass scaffolds; Transportation: Truck trailer and automotive lightweighting; Sport & Leisure: Skateboard design.
Some of these case studies have already been translated into other languages, or, been simplified for earlier years of study (Level 2).
From edge science of hiererachically living materials to basic education of materials science
Prof. Xiaoyu Yang, Wuhan University of Technology
Hierarchically living structures are commonly found in living organisms and are of key importance to achieve optimal properties and performance. One great interest in science and technology is the implementation of such porous hierarchies in artificial materials from the molecular level to the macroscopic dimensions with the highest possible precision. In our group, interseting works in hierarchically living materials have been made in areas ranging from nanoscience to catalysis, separation, energy, life science and other industrial applications.
Group discussions and exams for new online course on electron microscopy of materials
Dr. Zhili Dong, NTU, School of Materials Science and Engineering
Some scientists from industry R&D departments need to use analytical microscopes to examine materials microstructures. To learn new microscopy techniques, a new MEng online course on electron microscopy has been launched by the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University. The challenges we faced include the online group discussions and online exams. Assessment requires all of the students to log in the course site and start the test within the same 2-hour window. As the students are spread out throughout Singapore and abroad, it is challenging to resolve the internet connection problems for students in case there are connection errors. In this education symposium, we will exchange ideas with other lecturers on how to properly conduct the online group discussions and online exams. Moreover, we will explore how to provide TEM training to the students.
The attempt to use CES EduPack in the Engineering Materials undergraduate course
Mr. Yicong Ye, National University of Defense Technology
Engineering Materials is a very important professional course in the course system of Materials Science and Engineering. Traditionally, main contents of this course include metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, while materials selection was either not taught or taught perfunctorily in the past decades, which is unacceptable nowadays.
EduPack was introduced into this course as an important and useful tool for materials selection. And it turns out to be very popular by our students. We learned the Mars lander case and introduced it to our course, which attracted students’ attention perfectly.
Aerospace materials are our special interests, however, the database is not complete enough for materials selection in the aerospace materials area, which we hope can be improved in the future.