MAE3406 - Aerospace materials - 2018

Lightweight composite materials are used widely in aerospace structures. They include carbon fibre reinforced plastics, glass fibre reinforced plastics, carbon laminates, composite panels, carbon mats and woven fabrics. Honeycomb structures, metal matrix composites, thermal ceramics and advanced materials. Light alloys: aluminium, titanium and magnesium. Thermoset and thermoplastic systems. Manufacture, processing and fabrication of aerospace materials. Net shape forming and structure-property relationships. Joining of composites. Properties and selection of aerospace materials. Degradation, failure modes, delaminating, bond failure, environmental and thermal degradation, fatigue and wear.

At the successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Decide on the appropriate material for a given engineering design considering the operational requirements and the limitations of different material types.
2. Describe methods for modification of material microstructure and control of material properties.
3. Reflect on the intricacies of a common manual fabrication technique (ARC Welding) and its associated safety aspects.
4. Differentiate a range of corrosion types and the principles behind corrosion mitigation.
5. Predict mechanical and corrosion failure modes and explain likely causes.

Continuous assessment: 40%

Final Examination (2 hours): 60%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Six hours of contact time per week - usually 3 hours lectures and 3 hours practice sessions or laboratories as well as 6 hours of private study per week

See also Unit timetable information

Aerospace Engineering