Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Identical coursesMaterials: Properties, Selection and Sustainability (B-KUL-HBE18E)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Van Acker Karel (coordinator) | Van Acker Karel Aims
This course deals with materials science and technology as an example of a technological discipline, integrating aspects such as resource scarcity, material properties and scientific foundations, technical processes, materials and process selection and economic and environmental aspects.
Upon completion of this course unit:
- Understands the key material properties from basic physical principles
- Understands the relationship between material properties, design and functionality
- The student will have the necessary knowledge to make responsible choices of resources and materials and to evaluate their application in a balanced way.
Previous knowledge
Mathematics (simple differential and integral calculus) and basic physics and basic concepts of thermodynamics are needed to follow this course. It is advisable to have completed the following courses first:
- Mathematics for Business Engineers I (HBE01E)
- Mathematics for Business Engineers II (HBE02E)
- Conceptual Physics with Technical Applications (HBE24U)
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
5 ects. Science and Technology III (B-KUL-HBE18e)
EnglishFormat: Lecture
40 
Second termContent
From an application and user perspective the most relevant properties (physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical) of metals, ceramics, plastics and composite materials are discussed. Taking into account these properties, as well as the economic, environmental and manufacturing criteria, elements for material selection and evaluation are indicated. Some case studies of Belgian companies in the materials sector will illustrate this.
Typical questions dealt with during the course are:
- Where do materials come from?
- What properties do they have?
- How can we best use these properties to make useful products? / How do we choose which materials we need?
- How can we process materials into products? How can we influence the properties?
- What is the impact of materials on the environment, the economy and sustainability?
- What is circular economy?
The following topics are covered:
- Raw materials and material consumption
- Structure of materials: atoms and bonds. Defects in materials
- Stiffness and strength
- Fracture and fatigue
- Thermal properties
- Electrical properties
- Material processing and wear
- Environmental impact of materials
- Life cycle assessment
- Circular economy
The course includes lectures, master classes, introduction sessions to the GRANTA software and team activities.
Course material
Slides and own course text (partially) published on Toledo.
Format: more information
Group assignment - Guest lecture
- Lectures clarify the structure of the material and process families, resource scarcity, environmental impact and circular economy, and provide scientific background and situate the applications.
- Master classes provide an integrated application of the concepts from the course.
- Team activities in a smaller group allow the acquired insights to be applied to concrete applications.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Materials: Properties, Selection and Sustainability (B-KUL-H75341)
Explanation
Evaluation caracteristics
* The evaluation consists of:
- a group paper
- a written closed book examination
* The use of the formulary is allowed during the exam. The exam consists of open questions, and multiple choice questions (a correction for wrong answers is applied and the calculation method will be announced during the lessons and via the cover page of the exam). Both conceptual and application oriented questions are asked. Sample exam questions are offered via Toledo.
*For the group paper, students work in groups of 2 to 4 persons on a motivated selection of material on a concrete practical example or topical subject in the light of the theory taught and report on this in the form of a wiki which is made available via Toledo. The possible themes as well as the precise modalities for registration, execution and submission are determined by the instructor at the beginning of the semester and announced via Toledo.
Determination final result
* The exam is graded by the lecturer, as communicated via Toledo and the examination regulations. The result is calculated and expressed with a whole number to 20.
*The final result is a weighted grade determined as follows:
- 20% of the points are on the group paper
- 80% of the marks are on the final examination
*If the stipulated submission date for the group paper is not respected, the final assessment for the course unit will be 'NA' (not taken), unless for serious reasons a new submission date is determined after application.
Information about retaking exams
*The features of the evaluation and determination of grades are identical to those of the first examination opportunity, as described in the tab 'Explanation'.
* In the second examination opportunity, the paper again forms part of the final assessment. Due to the nature of the group paper, the grade obtained for the group paper during the first examination opportunity is again included in the final result for the second examination opportunity.