11-05-2012, 05:17 PM
Mechanics of Materials Laboratory
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INTRODUCTION
Mechanics of Materials is generally the name applied to a discipline in which the stress,
strain and deflections of loaded structural elements are considered. This set of notes presents
the laboratory aspects of this subject.
For nearly all design work it is necessary to know something of the elastic and, often,
plastic properties of the material to be used. While these properties are often available from
handbooks, sometimes particular properties of less common materials are needed, in which
case the engineer must perform his own tests. The performance of these typical tests in this
laboratory will give a better feeling for the significance of the various material properties and for
the accuracy with which these quantities can be determined.
Laboratory Procedure
Mechanics of Materials Laboratory, ME 354, is intended to give an experimental
understanding and verification of the coursework covered in Mechanics of Materials, CIVE 220
(formerly ENGR 220) and Introduction to Materials Science, MSE 170 (formerly ENGR 170).
No one should be enrolled in this course who has not taken or is not currently taking MSE 170
and CIVE 220 or their equivalents.
Laboratory reports
Reports are the primary basis for the course grade. Examination grades and discussion
participation are also considered in the final grade. Grades are important to the student for a
relatively short time; report writing will be important to the student's total career.
The laboratory reports provide an opportunity for the student to sharpen writing skills
and to increase the awareness of writing standards. Future employers will require standards
and will judge your professional or technical ability in part on your reporting capabilities.
Sherman (Sherman et al, 1975) has stated "It would be an overstatement, perhaps, to say that
a career in a technical profession will be impossible if you cannot write effectively. It is no
overstatement, however, to say that weakness in writing is a handicap that will weaken your
qualifications for many desirable positions, and that skill in writing is an asset that can make your
professional advancement faster and easier."