MEEN/MSEN 705

Micromechanics of Materials

Prof. Lianxi Zheng

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Office: C04054A
Telephone: 025018318
Lianxi.zheng@ku.ac.ae

1
Contacts and office hours
Course introduction

Objectives
To provide students the knowledge and
methods to study mechanics of materials
at micro/nano scale.
Content
The course will cover the background of materials and
their structures, and overview the fundamentals of
mechanics. Then the course will introduce the
micromechanics in metals, ceramics, and composites.
Microstructures and their influences on mechanical
properties, defect theory, and analytic methods in
micromechanics will be studied.
Two assignments and one project will be used to
enhance students’ practical capabilities on research,
communication, and technical writing.
 Micro-
Structure Nanomechanics
Process mechanical properties
of physical systems at
System the nanoscale.

Materials
Classification Mechanics
Structure Stress
Properties Strain
Defects Deformation
Failure

Micromechanics of Materials

Localization Homogenization
Course topics

• Materials and their micro-structure

• Fundamental mechanics of materials
• Plastic deformation and texture formation in
metals
• Micromechanics of dislocation and twinning
• Localized stress and fracture of brittle materials
with voids and cracks
• Micromechanics of composite
Text book and references
1. “Mechanical Behavior of Materials”, William F.
Hosford, Cambridge, 2nd edition, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-
521-19569-0.
2. “Continuum Micromechanics of Materials”, Helmut J.
Bohm, 2010
3. Micromechanics of composite materials, George
Dvorak, Springer, 2013. ISBN: 978-94-007-4100-3
4. “Micromechanics of Defects in Solids”, Toshio Mura,
1991, 2nd edition.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Students will acquire broad knowledge on materials and their
mechanical properties.
2. Understand the mechanic related issues in micro/nano scaled
materials and micro-mechanic systems.
3. Gain professional knowledge on microstructures & defects
and their influences on material failure.
4. Understand the principles of several analytic methods in
micromechanics.
5. Be able to identify the research direction, design and conduct
experiments, analyze the data, and evaluate their research.
Subject Assessment
The assessment consists of three parts:
(a) Assignments (X2) and project (X1)
(b) Midterm exam (X1)
(c) Final exam (X1)
Teaching Plan

Show: syllabus supplement for students

Course assignments and project

There are no formal laboratory sessions. A project will be used to

enhance the teaching outcomes. In this project, students are
required to give a literature study on any important topic about
the micromechanics (topics are usually suggested). At the end of
semester, each student needs to submit a final report and give
an oral presentation. The evaluation of the project is based on
following criteria:
• Correlation of the topic to the course;
• Comprehensive literature background information and basic
principles in selected topic;
• Ability of data analyzing, problem formulating, and research
direction identification;
• Ability to design and evaluate new research plan by applying
existing knowledge;
• Effective communication (writing, oral, and Q/A).
 Examples of topics:
 E-skin (E-textile) and flexible devices (sensor,
transistor, supercapacitor, battery…
 Plasticity in porous foams (CNT, graphene, metal
foam….)
 Mechanical behavior of Meta-materials (materials
with negative Poisson ratio)
 Super alloy
 Transparent alumina

Top Strongest Materials Ever - YouTube(Top 10 strongest materials)

Prince Rupert's Drop vs Hydraulic Press [ 4K - Slow Motion ] ( S1
E9 ) - Bing video
7 Strangest & Coolest Materials Which Actually Exist ✅ - YouTube
Example topics from previous students:

• Characterization of 3D Graphene and Its Composites

• A 3D model for shape memory alloys accounting for plasticity
• From viscoelasticity to visco-piezoresistivity of elastomeric
stretchable and flexible conductors
• Mechanical properties of 3D graphene foams
• Design, fabrication, and characterization of an origami-inspired
novel lightweight composite structure
• Plastically deformable organic crystals
• Elastic behavior of 3D triply periodic minimal surface structured
molybdenum disulfide for electromechanical sensor applications
• PH responsive hydrogels: phenomenal material for cancer targeted
therapy