Description
Objectives
Micro and nanotechnologies have been playing a key role in the design and development of new products, namely those directly associated with the area of Mechanical Engineering. This course aims to provide knowledge (i) on the mechanical behaviour of materials at the microscale (e.g. grain level) and nanoscale (e.g. molecules and atoms level) and also (ii) on methods of mechanical analysis of molecular and atomic structures. In addition to other UCs (Solid Mechanics and Fluid Mechanics), the main objective of this UC is to make known the differences between our scale (macro) and the atomic scale, regarding the mechanical behaviour of solids, their constitutive laws and the interactions between particles (grains, molecules, atoms).
Syllabus
Fundamental concepts in micromechanics in solid mechanics: Structural and material scales. Representative Volume Elements (RVEs) and Periodic Unit Cells. Averaging: Homogenization and Determination of Effective Properties. Average and macro strain and stress fields. Localization: computation of stress and strain micro fields. Computational modelling in micromechanics. Behaviour of materials at nanoscale. Nonlinear interactions between its components, i.e., the atoms. Differences to continuum mechanics (macro and micro). Interatomic force-fields that govern the interactions at nanoscale. Both strong (bonded) and weak (non-bonded) interactions. Basis of molecular mechanics method, atomistic finite element method, and molecular dynamics method. Assessment of materials properties at nanoscale. Material failure mechanisms. Modelling and simulation of the mechanical behaviour of different materials at nanoscale, such as metals, graphene, nanotubes and nanocomposites.
Cross Competence Component
The Unit allows the development of the following Soft Skills: (i) "Critical and Innovative Thinking", related to "problem solving strategies"; (ii) "Intrapersonal Competences", associated to "self-discipline", "time management", "enthusiasm", "perseverance" and "self-motivation"; (iii) "Interpersonal Skills", related to "teamwork", "leadership" and "written and oral communication skills"; (iv) "Information and media literacy", in regardo to "structuring and formatting reports and presentations". The evaluation of these skills contibutes to 20% of the final grade.
Laboratorial Component
Not considered.
Programming And Computing Component
The Unit has a Programming and Computing Component that consists in the development of a computational program to solve two simple structural problems, similar to those observed in the laboratory session, and also possible use of a finite element software. This Component aims to develop the following skills: Abstraction; Automation; Decomposition; Debug; Generalization and Algorithmic Reasoning. The evaluation of this component correspond to 30% of the final grade.
Ethical Principles
All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.