UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

BSc (Hons) Engineering Part I

FINAL EXAMINATION

ENGINEERING MATERIALS CE101

TIME: 3 HOURS DATE: JULY 2003

SECTION A

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer ANY FOUR Questions from this Section.

Each Question Carries 20 Marks.

1(a)(i) State whether the following materials are ductile or brittle:

metallic materials
ceramic materials. [4]

(ii) Explain any similarities or differences (in (i) above) in terms of the type of
bonding in these materials. [6]

(b)(i) The attractive force between the Ca2+ and S2- ions in a CaS ionic crystal is 1.09 x
10-8N. If the ionic radius of the S2- ion is 0.184nm. Calculate a value for the ionic
radius of Ca2+. [8]

(ii) Ions in an ionic solid are arranged in an orderly crystalline structure. Give two
factors that determine ionic packing in ionic solids. [2]

2(a) Polymeric materials are divided into two types namely thermoplastics and
thermosets. Compare and contrast the following properties of the two types of
polymers explaining any differences in terms of primary and/or secondary
bonding:

(i) stiffness.
(ii) melting points.
(iii) electrical conductivity [10]

(b) The ionic radii of Sr2+ and S2- in Strontium Sulphide is 0.127nm and 0.184nm
respectively.

(i) Calculate the attractive force between the pair of ions. [8]
(ii) Give a brief description of how the ionic bond in SrS is formed. [2]

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3. Barium at 20oC is BCC and has a lattice constant of 0.5019 and an interatomic
distance of 0.218nm. Calculate the following:

(a) The atomic radius of Barium atoms. [4]

(b) The distance between successive 110 planes. [6]
(c) Show with all the necessary steps that the atomic packing factor (AFP) in a
BCC arrangement is 68%. [8]
(d) What do you understand by the term allotrophic transformation. [2]

4(a) Derive Bragg’s Law relating the angle at which X-rays are strongly diffracted, to
the interplanar spacing with a crystal lattice. [6]

(b) Name two types of crystalline imperfections that can be found in crystalline
materials. [2]

(c)(i) Name three types of corrosion and give a brief description of each. [9]

(ii) Give one method of corrosion control/prevention. Describe how the method works
in combating corrosion. [3]

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5. Below is the phase diagram of Cu-Nickel alloys

(a) An alloy of Cu-Ni contains 40% Cu and 60% Ni at 2400F.

(i) Using the phase diagram above what is the weight percent Ni in the liquid
and solid phases at this temperature? [4]
(ii) What weight percent of this alloy is liquid and what weight percent is
solid? [6]

(b)(i) One of the most important mechanical property of materials is tensile strength.
Describe an experiment to carry out tensile testing of a material. [6]

(ii) What do you understand by the following:

- modulus of elasticity.
- ductility. [4]

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SECTION B

Answer ALL Questions from this Section.

1(a) Briefly describe three situations in which soils play an important part in the
engineering design and construction of projects. [3]

(b) Describe the phases of a soil. Use a phase diagram to illustrate your descriptions.
[4]

(c) A soil was extracted from the ground and taken to the laboratory for measurement.
The following data was obtained:

Volume of sample 1.20 x 10-3 m3

The soil weighed 1.94kg
After drying in an oven the weight was 1.735kg
The specific gravity of the solids was 2.71

Define then determine the following quantities:

(1) The bulk unit weight of the soil in kN/m3 (moist unit weight).
(2) The dry unit weight kN/m3.
(3) The moisture content of the soil.
(4) The void ratio of the soil.
(5) The porosity of the soil.
(6) And the degree of saturation. [18]

2(a) What are the normal properties which will make timber suitable for use in:
(i) Marine works.
(ii) Heavy construction works. [5]

(b) Why is the moisture content in timber important? What is meant by the “fibre
saturation point” in timber? [5]

(c) Name any five sources and forms of timber deterioration. Explain each type
briefly. [5]

(d) Name the advantages and disadvantages of kiln seasoning of timber against air
drying. [5]

List of Constants;
e = 1.06 x 10-19C

εo = 8.85 x 10-12C2/Nm2

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

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