Linking Mechanics And Materials In Engineering Design: A New Approach

Educating engineering students should involve an integrated approach. Hence we have developed a new course linking mechanics, materials science, and design. The course titled “Mechanics and Materials in Structural Design” educates students in the total design of structures. One important aspect of this model of teaching is to develop multimedia based virtual lab modules. This paper focuses on one such module, namely, “Tension Test of Metals”. This module links the mechanics experiment with the fundamentals of materials science and highlights its usefulness in the context of engineering design of structures. With this approach an apparently simple tension test can help the students to better visualize the linkages between materials response at the macroand atomic-level, and design. Preliminary assessment of the course suggests that this philosophy of teaching and integrated course on design is valid.