Southern Polytechnic State University
Mechanical Engineering Technology Department
MET 3132: Engineering Materials
SYLLABUS – Fall 2012
Instructor:
John F. Sweigart
Office Q235/236
Phone: 678-915-4985
Lecture: Q221. T,R: 6:00-7:15
Office Hours: See schedule in website.
Email: jsweigar@spsu.edu
Lab: T or R at 7:30 pm in Q 136.
Course Number and Title: MET 3132 – Engineering Materials
Credits and Contact Hours (Lecture/Laboratory/Credit): 3/3/4
Course Description: A study of metals ceramics, polymers, and composites as related to
design and manufacturing. Areas include corrosion, atomic structure, mechanical
properties, failure theories, fatigue, creep, cold working, heat treating, alloying,
and non-destructive testing. The lab work includes tensile testing, heat treating,
impact testing, hardness testing, and corrosion.
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites: ENGR 3131, Strength of Materials (or concurrently); CHEM
1211K, Principals of Chemistry I
Textbook: Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction; by William D. Callister Jr. and
David D. Rethwisch, Eighth Edition, 2010.
References: You will be guided to internet and library resources as needed.
Course Outcomes:
Students will develop understanding of fundamentals and application of the following topics:
1. General characteristics of major material groups.
2. Atomic and microstructure of materials.
3. Mechanical, chemical, electrical and thermal properties of materials.
4. Deformation and failure mechanisms.
5. Equilibrium phase diagrams and microstructure transformations.
6. Mechanisms of strengthening techniques.
7. Integration of information to develop material selection.
8. Communications skills, written and oral.
9. Concepts required for the Fundamentals of Engineering test.
Grading:
 The components of the final grade will be weighted as follows:
Area
points
10%
15%
30%
25%
20%
100%
HW
5 Quizzes (1 qz dropped)
3 Tests
Lab-participation, report
Comprehensive Final exam
Total
 Grading: The student will receive a letter grade based on the following scheme.
Overall %
88 – 100%
79 – 88
70 - 79
60 – 70
0 - 60
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
 Lab reports will follow various formats issued by the Instructor. These will be explained in
details during the lab.
Passing grade averages are required for BOTH lecture and laboratory in order to pass the
course. Lab experiments will be performed in student groups; however individual as well as
group lab reports will be required as specified by the Instructor. Lab reports are due one week
after the lab work unless specified otherwise by the instructor. After due date, late lab reports
may be accepted with penalty of 50%. A student must actively participate in the Lab sessions in
order to be part of report writing and get credit for a specific Lab. Students must ask for and
make arrangements to attend a different lab session in case s/he anticipates absence on his/her
lab day.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to be in every class and on time. While daily class attendance may not be
taken, students are responsible for material covered in class as well as all assignments even if
they are absent. Excessive tardiness and unexcused absences (more than 5 classes) may result in
a lower grade or even course failure if the instructor feels such lack of participation is
detrimental to the student's progress in the course. Late (more than 5 minutes) attendance in two
classes is considered as one absence.
Makeup Policy:
Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on the due date. Late assignments may only
be accepted with a penalty of 50%. Once solutions are provided/posted, no assignments will be
accepted. Of course in unusual situations, as determined by the instructor, late assignments may
be accepted. Exams/quizzes may only be made up if arranged before the scheduled period, and
ONLY in the case of an excused absence as defined by the university policy.
Academic Integrity:
Honor system is followed in this course and the instructor trusts the students in applying strict
ethics in their academic activities. Thus any act of academic dishonesty such as fraud and
deception, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated at all and will be punished by academic
and/or disciplinary sanctions. Any material not authored by the student but used in any
submitted/presented work must be properly acknowledged. Cheating, including any evidence of
the use of other students’ works, will result in severe penalties including zero for the assignment,
failure in the course, and expulsion, consistent with university policy.
Follow this link for further guidance on Academic Dishonesty:
http://lovelace.spsu.edu/bharbort/conduct.html
Students with disabilities:
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact the coordinator of disabilities services at 678-915-7244 as soon as possible
to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Please visit the
disabilities services web page at SPSU for more information.
http://www.spsu.edu/attic/Dis_Svcs.html
Course topics and approximate lecture hours devoted to each topic:
TOPICS COVERED
Corrosion
Atomic and crystal structure
Failure and slip mechanisms
Tensile, compressive, and torsional stresses
Impact strength
Fatigue
Creep
Failure Mechanisms
Metal Properties
Polymer Properties
Ceramic Properties
Composite Properties
LECTURE HOURS
3
4
10
2
1
2
1
3
3
3
1
2
Laboratory projects:
In tensile testing performed on a mild steel following heat treatment with various
quenches, ultimate strength and elongation to failure are measured. Charpy impact tests
are performed to compare ductility at different temparatures. Rockwell hardness tests are
preformed on an end-quenched Jominy bar to determine hardenability of a steel.
Corrosion tests are performed wherein each lab group assembles a dissimilar metal cell
and tracks weight loss/gain over the course of the semester to determine the effects of
different parameters. Students use heat treating furnaces, a tensile tester, calipers, an
impact tester, hardness testers, a Jominy fixture, and a platform balance.