MSE 510
Electrical, Optical & Dielectric Materials
Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering
Spring 2015/Bill Knowlton
Project 2
Project 2 is a team-based project so you may form teams of 2-3 and submit one project per team.
You will need to organize your team – I will not appoint them. See due dates and deliverables at the
end of this document.
In Project 2, you will examine the phenomenological behavior of electrical &/and thermal
conductivity (or resistivity) in a material. Review chapter 2 in your textbook and choose a topic
within its scope (except Ch. 2.7 Electrical Conductivity of nonmetals). Find a peer reviewed journal
article(s), conference paper(s), and/or text/reference book(s) that expands upon the topic. The
approach used in the papers and/or text/reference book(s) can be experimental, numerical or
theoretical. Analyze the study in depth using a mathematical program and discuss all your results.
You may use an approach similar to Project 1. That is:
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Extract the data from the journal article and place in a .csv file (cvs = comma separated
value; Excel can create this type of file)
Import the data into Mathematica or a mathematical program (not Excel) of choice (e.g,
Matlab, Maple, Origin, Mathcad, JMP, Igor, Kalideograph, etc.)
Plot the data and discuss trends
Fit the data:
o For Mathematica:
 Manipulate[ ] and extract fitting parameters
 NonLinearFitModel[ ] and extract useful physical parameters
o Other mathematical program – must fit data and extract useful physical parameters
Perform an statistical error analysis on the fit – must define the statistical error analysis
approach you use (provide a paragraph description and reference)
Perform mathematical operations on the fit (e.g., integration, differentiation, etc) and plot the
results to extract a physical parameter
o Examples:
 By differentiating Arrhenius data, the activation energy of the thermally
activated process can be extracted.
 By integrating stress-strain data, the energy absorbed by the material can be
extracted.
Be sure to include in your report:
o Title, authors, affiliations
o Abstract
o Brief Introduction of the paper(s) with motivation: Brief Introduction of the paper(s),
what they are attempting to demonstrate, & reasons for which you have interest in the
work.
o Analysis of the data
 Fitting & statistical error analysis, and/or theoretical analysis
 Parameter extractions
 Validity of extracted parameters
 Figures and tables to display the above
o Discuss/Comment on:
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MSE 510
Electrical, Optical & Dielectric Materials
Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering
Spring 2015/Bill Knowlton
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Your results findings
Assumptions made in the paper(s) &/or book(s) you are analyzing
Your assumptions you have made
Why your analysis is similar or differs from the outcome of the paper(s) &/or
book(s) you are analyzing
o Conclusions or Summary
o Applications that includes at least 1 reference or directly reference from your research
or work.
o Label all plots thoroughly with arrows, text, &/or legends and include figure numbers
and captions
o Thoroughly document your program code
o References - should include at least 2 if not more
Be sure to show depth, rigor, and creative and critical thinking in your analysis
For assistance in writing, see “Anatomy of a Journal Article”
Use the document on the website, Projects – Overview & General Information, to help you with
the analysis.
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Due Wednesday, 1/28, 5pm; Email me the following
o A list of your team members. Thus, you need to organize your team and choose the
person in charge of corresponding (email) with me.
o A chosen topic relevant to Chapter 2 (except Ch. 2.7 Electrical Conductivity of
nonmetals).
o A peer-reviewed journal &/or conference paper(s) &/or text/reference book(s). So
you need to find a peer reviewed journal article &/or conference paper&/or
text/reference book(s). You may additionally include a web site (must be peer
reviewed) that presents experimental data on the chosen topic.
Due Friday, 2/6; Email me:
o Final project. The project can include some of your approaches in project 1.
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Each of you will email me a completed and signed Self-Evaluation form
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