Laboratory Project for MSE-750-332-0
MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF SOLIDS

Instructors: Prof. D.C. Dunand, Dr. K. Stair, Mr. M. Seniw

The class is divided into project teams of 4-5 students, and each team is assigned to one project representing a complete investigation of the mechanical behavior of a particular material. The project extends over the entire quarter and involves several types of mechanical measurements, as well as specimen preparation, microstructure observation, and prototype development.

The 332 lab is designed to resemble a real industrial research project. The samples are procured from a company (McMaster in 2003), which provides little or no information on the mechanical properties of these materials: the team is thus like a small company, using commercially-available materials to create a prototype, and needing the properties to justify the performance of their product.

Each team is responsible for the following deliverables:
- a mid-term oral progress report
- an end-of-term final presentation
- a final report, written in the form of a scientific report.
- a product prototype, to be created and delivered at the end of the quarter. Each team may choose a name, reflecting the product they are designing.
- a “product brochure” (2 pages), summarizing the main characteristics of their material and displaying the prototype (starting in 2004).

Clink on links below to see the product brochures produced by students in 2003 and 2004.

MSE-750-332
Material themes

2007 - Virgin vs. Recycled Materials
Aluminum

Concrete

Countertop

Paper

Polyethylene

2006 - Natural vs. Synthetic Materials
Bamboo vs Polyproylene

Natural Cork vs Synthetic Cork

Granite vs Zodiaq

Natural Rubber vs Synthetic Rubber

Wood vs Polyethylene

2005 - Shape Memory
Ribbon Earrings

Wire Collar Stay

Polymer Ornaments

Spring Thermoswitch

2004 - Honeycombs
Al-Al Honeycomb Sandwich Structure

Team Brown Kraft

Team White Kraft

Project Splash

Team Scurvy