MEAM 537 syllabus 1.pdfMEAM 537 syllabus 2.pdfVersion 1/20/09 1 MEAM/MSE 537 - Spring 2009 Nanomechanics and Nanotribology at Interfaces Instructor: Professor R. W. Carpick 271 Towne Building telephone: 215-898-4608 e-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: TBD Web Site: Blackboard http://courseweb.library.upenn.edu. Course information and updates are on Blackboard site. In addition some updates will be e-mailed to the class. Scheduling: Two 90 minute lectures/week, MW 12:00 – 1:30 pm, DRL 3C8. Course Goals: - To provide students with physically-based foundational knowledge of mechanical and tribological behavior of interfaces at the atomic/molecular/nanometer scale - To illustrate the current research approaches to studying these problems in terms of experiments, theory, and computation - For background, to introduce the students to key macroscopic principles of tribology so that they can appreciate the differences and similarities with nanotribology - Also for background, to introduce students to the topics of crystallography (atomic structure and bonding) and the physical principles of surfaces - To demonstrate how specific physical behavior and engineering design requirements with regard to mechanics and tribology change with scale - To discuss the mechanical and tribological behavior of specific materials, and demonstrate how specific material properties and conditions affect nano-scale mechanical and tribological behavior - To expose students to the cross-disciplinary intersections that occur between mechanics and materials science, chemistry, physics, and biology when working at the nano-scale. - To enhance students’ appreciation of the current state and potential future impact of nanotechnology, and how nanomechanics and nanotribology are important for this Course Description: Engineering is progressing to ever smaller scales, enabling new technologies, materials, devices, and applications. Mechanics and tribology enter a new regime where the role of surfaces, interfaces, defects, material property variations, and quantum effects play more dominant roles. This course will provide an introduction to nano-scale mechanics and tribology at interfaces, and the critical role these topics play in the developing area of nanoscience and nanotechnology. We will discuss how mechanics and tribology at interfaces become integrated with the fields of materials science, chemistry, physics, and biology at this scale. We will cover a variety of concepts and applications, drawing connections to both established and new approaches. We will discuss the limits of continuum mechanics and present newly developed theories and experiments tailored to describe micro- and nano-scale phenomena. We will emphasize specific applications throughout the course.Version 1/20/09 2 Prerequisites: Freshman physics; MEAM 354 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Students should have a general understanding of mechanics and materials, and a deep curiosity in extending their knowledge beyond traditional bounds. This course is designed for students willing and able to work at least at the level of a first year graduate student. Literature reviews, critical peer discussion, individual and team problem assignments, a laboratory project, and student presentations will be an integral part of the course. Target Audience: Seniors and Graduate students from the Schools of Engineering and Applied Science, or Arts and Science, that have an interest in nanomechanics and nanotribology. e-LectureNotes: For most lectures, selected lecture notes will be posted on Blackboard in advance. You need to print these notes for each lecture and bring them to class. They will be used directly for our lectures, and they are interactive – meaning that there is additional material you will add to these notes that will be given in the lecture itself. These notes will be posted on the course website by 2 pm, the day before each lecture is held. You will not be notified by email about this; you will need to remember to check and download the notes in advance. If a delay in posting the notes is expected, you will be notified by email. If you have problems accessing, downloading, and viewing these notes, please notify me ASAP. The notes are not a replacement for attending and participating in lecture, and reading the assigned readings. While there is overlap between all of these, they are meant to be complementary, and you are responsible for learning from all three. Grading Scale: You will be graded on an absolute scale - no curving. That means everyone could get an A, and everyone could get an F. Advantages: – You are allowed to do your best, free from competition with your classmates. – You can keep track of your true grade throughout the semester, with the exception of the end-of-semester adjustments made by me according to effort. 97-100 A+93-96 A90-92 A-87-89 B+83-86 B80-82 B-77-79 C+73-76 C70-72 C-66-69 D+60-65 DBelow 60 FVersion 1/20/09 3 I have the discretion to adjust borderline grades at the end of the semester; a clear display of participation and effort in lecture and in your discussion sections will count in your favor. A lack of effort, poor attendance, and unconstructive classroom performance will count against you. Grading Policy: Late work will not be accepted without permission in advance; permission to hand in late work will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances. Assignments: This course will incorporate the following types of assignments: - homework sets based on individual effort, roughly every 2 weeks. - manuscript presenting an in-depth critical review of a nanomechanics or nanotribology research topic that incorporates interdisciplinary issues; written as a technical article submission to a peer-reviewed journal; incorporates reviews and appropriate revisions; graded by the instructors and by peers. homeworks: 45% manuscript: 40% class participation: 15% Textbook: The required textbook is “Tribology on the Small Scale”, C.M. Mate, Oxford University Press (2008). Selected papers and book excerpts will be made available throughout the course. There are also several books that are recommended reading which may from time to time be used for reference and be made available in the engineering library. References on Reserve at the Engineering Library: G. Timp (1999) Nanotechnology T174.7 N373 1999 Beer, Johnston & DeWolf (2006)