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Session 2464

Approaches to Computational Materials Science

Juri Filatovs, D. M. Pai, S. N. Yarmolenko and J. Sankar Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures Department of Mechanical Engineering North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, NC 27411

Abstract There is an increased application of materials computation in the selection, microstructural analysis, simulation, and testing of materials. This is creating a new mode of approaching, and teaching materials science. There is needed familiarity with statistics, modeling, and simulation, in addition to the usual materials science topics. We have used software for microstructural characterization, selection for design, and virtual testing. This paper describes our experiences in incorporation of such software into the graduate and undergraduate curriculum and our strategies for bringing in and bridging the diverse areas of specialization needed.

Introduction and Motivation Engineering educators pin much hope and expectation on the use of computers for more efficient and better instruction, through the use of software packages for word processing, presentation, calculation and Web collaboration. Far less common is the exposure of students to the computer-aided contemporary skills required in many industrial settings. In a wide ranging, collective specialty such as materials science, there is need to routinely use a wide range of computational and analytic tools; for experimental data analysis, simulation, characterization, and selection for design. Underlying these topics are the central areas of mathematics and statistics. Meaningful coverage of this range of tasks is a major challenge in terms of integration and incorporation into coursework.

There is an emerging discipline known as computational materials science, involving materials modeling, simulation, virtual testing, and such. We are not concerned with the full computation syllabus, but rather the increased use of materials computation within the usual coursework. We share our experiences in several courses, centered on Materials Science topics, both undergraduate and graduate, and taught to mechanical engineering students.

Issues Materials Science, like many other disciplines, is evolving a new relationship with the computer. The wide-ranging, eclectic and interdisciplinary nature of the field has found applications in materials selection, microstructural analysis, simulation, and testing. As teachers we must face the actuality that most students have little programming experience, and that the use of computer software severely alters the scope of a course. The introduction and integration of this auxiliary information is problematic.

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Yarmolenko, S., & Sankar, J., & Pai, D., & Filatovs, J. (2003, June), Approaches To Computational Materials Science Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12057