MSE 500: Modern Concepts in Materials Science and Engineering
Spring 2010
Instructor:
Professor Mike Rigsbee
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 3014 Engineering Building I
PH: 919-515-3272
EMAIL: mike_rigsbee@ncsu.edu
Prerequisites: BS in engineering/science field with coursework in chemistry, physics, math,
and thermodynamics.
Textbook:
“Materials Science and Engineering – An Introduction,”
7th Ed., William D. Callister, Jr., John Wiley & Sons
This book will be supplemented with materials from: “The Principles of Engineering
Materials,” C. Barrett, W. Nix and A. Tetelman, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Course Description: MSE 500 discusses, at the senior undergraduate level, the fundamental
principles that govern the physical properties of materials. This course will prepare students without an
undergraduate materials degree for further graduate level MSE courses. Emphasis is placed on
developing a basic understanding of materials science concepts such as atomic bonding,
crystallography, defects, diffusion, phase transformations, and deformation and failure mechanisms.
Course Objectives: After completing this course, the student will be able to: explain relationships
between atomic bonding and atomic structure of materials; discuss defects and their roles of in the
behaviors of crystalline solids including diffusion and deformation; apply thermodynamics and phase
diagrams to explain the evolution of microstructure; discuss phase transformation mechanisms in
solids; describe microstructure-property-processing relationships for various material types; and,
explain the basis for differences in electrical and magnetic properties of solids..
Grading: Grades will be based on credit for homework (10 points per homework set, 12 homework
sets), three 90-minute exams (240 points per test, drop lowest test) and a comprehensive three-hour
final exam (400 points). The maximum point total is 1000. Course grades will be assigned based on
100 points per letter grade, with plus and minus grades (e.g., A+, A, A-) assigned per the convention:
900-919 = A-; 920-980 = A; and 981-1000 = A+.
Homework: Homework assigned from Callister is due by email directly to the instructor on or before
the dates indicated on the table below. Homework will be checked for completeness and effort but will
not be corrected and returned. Solutions will be posted on the NCSU Engineering Online (EOL) course
website. IMPORTANT: Send homework directly to the instructor and use MSE500 as the subject line in
all email communications.
Exams: Exams will be administered by Proctors following the directions of the EOL Program. Exams
are to be taken within the period specified in the table below. All exams will be “closed book and closed
notes.” A page with necessary equations and other data will be provided with each exam. Practice
exams, with solutions, will be posted on the EOL course website, along with other materials to aid in
preparation for taking the exams. The final exam will be comprehensive and one page (notebook paper
size, one side) of reference notes will be allowed for use during the final exam.
Computer and Internet Requirements: Refer to the Engineering Online website
http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm
The text referenced is Callister.
Additional problems may be assigned and sent by email.
LECTURE
DATE
CHAPTER &
SECTIONS
HOMEWORK
HW SET #
[Chapter]
HW DUE
DATE
1
1/12
Ch 1: all
none assigned
2
1/14
Ch 2: 1-8
7,8,18,19,21,23
1 [Ch 2]
1/18
3
1/19
Ch 3: 1-6
2,5,9,13
2 [Ch 3]
1/25
4
1/21
Ch 3: 7-14
23,30,31,39,40,
51,53,56
2 [Ch 3]
1/25
5
1/26
Ch 4: 1-5
2,3,5,7,12,14
3 [Ch 4]
2/1
6
1/28
Ch 4: 6-10
26,27,29
3 [Ch 4]
2/1
7
2/2
Exam #1 Review
Ch 5: 1-3
3,4,6,8
4 [Ch 5]
2/12
8
2/4
Ch 5: 4-6
11,15,16,26
4 [Ch 5]
2/12
2/8-2/10
EXAM #1
CHAPTERS 1-4
9
2/11
Ch 6: 1-6
3,4,8,15
5 [Ch 6]
2/19
10
2/16
Ch 6: 7-12
24,28,30,42
5 [Ch 6]
1/19
11
2/18
Ch 7: 1-6
1,5,7,10,11
6 [Ch 7]
2/26
12
2/23
Ch 7: 7-13
14,15,24,32,36
6 [Ch 7]
2/26
13
2/25
Exam #2 Review
Ch 8: 1-12
1,3,5,12,14
7 [Ch 8]
2/26
14
3/2
Ch 9: 1-10
3,7,8,11,15
8 [Ch 9]
3/12
3/3-3/5
EXAM #2
CHAPTERS 5-8
15
3/9
Ch 9: 11-20
28,32,41,44
8 [Ch 9]
3/12
16
3/11
Ch 10: 1-3
1,2,6,9
9 [Ch 10]
3/29
17
3/23
Ch 10: 4-6
10,18, 19
9 [Ch 10]
3/29
18
3/25
Ch 10: 7-9
20,23,32
9 [Ch 10]
3/29
19
3/30
Ch 11: 1-3, 7-9
2,19,24,26,30
10 [Ch 11]
4/9
20
4/6
Ch 12: 1-9
1,4,7,18,39
10 [Ch 12]
4/9
21
4/8
Exam #3 Review
Ch 13: 1-3,8,9
1,2,13,15
11 [Ch 13]
4/19
22
4/13
Ch 14: 1-7
4/14-4/16
EXAM #3
CHAPTERS 9-12
23
4/20
Ch 14: 8-12
1,4,8,11,13
11 [Ch 14]
4/26
24
4/22
Ch 15: 1-19
1,5,8,11,15,20
12 [Ch 15]
4/26
25
4/27
Ch 16 1-10
5,6,8,13
26
4/29
GENERAL REVIEW
5/5-5/7
FINAL EXAM
4/19
not collected