MECH 6341

Engineering Analysis of Smart Materials and Structures

Summer 2023
Course Instructor: Dr. Hang Xu
E-mail: hang.xu@concordia.ca
Office: EV4.229
Office Hours: Monday 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Lecture Time and Classroom:

Jul 3 to Aug 10, Tuesday and Thursday, 14:45 – 17:30 at FG B055 SGW

Computer Lab Time and Classroom:

Please see your class schedule for details

Course Calendar Description:

This course presents a fundamental multidisciplinary approach to the analysis and design of smart materials
and structures. Using multifunctional materials, smart structures and systems are capable of modifying their
configuration and response characteristics in a controlled manner to accommodate unpredictable
environmental changes. This enabling technology can effectively lead to the design of lightweight and reliable
structures. In this course, the basic physical properties of widely used smart materials, including mechanical
metamaterials (lattice materials), piezoelectric materials, shape memory alloys and electro-rheological (ER)
and magneto-rheological (MR) fluids and elastomers will be reviewed. The constitutive equations to
characterize the behaviour of these smart materials will then be analyzed, followed by the development of
mathematical models of engineering systems with integrated smart materials. Applications of smart structures
in shape morphing and motion will finally be addressed.

Specific Knowledge and Skills Needed for this Course:

Students taking this course are expected to have sufficient knowledge of the following topics. Should
you have difficulties in any of these topics, you are strongly encouraged to review them before the
DNE deadline.
o Statics and Dynamics
o Tensor Analysis and Differential Equations
o Finite Element Analysis (including FEA software, e.g., ANSYS)
o Programming via MATLAB

Useful References:
• D. J. Leo, “Engineering Analysis of Smart Material Systems,” Wiley, 2007 (Main Textbook)
• L.J. Gibson, M.F. Ashby, Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties. (2nd Edition), Cambridge
University Press, 1999.
• Chopra and J. Sirohi, “Smart Structures Theory,” Cambridge University press, 2013.
• H. T. Banks. R. C. Smith and Y. Wang, “Smart Materials and Structures: Modeling, Estimation and
Control,” Wiley, 1996.
• Software Use: ANSYS and MATLAB available in ENCS labs
Moodle:
This course will be managed using Moodle. Course outline, handouts, lecture materials and
announcements will be posted on the course website. Students are encouraged to communicate directly
from the course’s Moodle site.

Grading Scheme:
Assessment Tool Weight
th
Midterm on Jul 25 in class, Closed-book 30%
Project, Individual 30%
Final on Aug 15th, Closed-book 40%
Total 100%
Note:
• Mid-term is mandatory. It is also compulsory to obtain a passing grade (normally 50% mark) in the
final examination to obtain a passing grade in the course.
• There will be no makeup test. Students who miss the Mid-term test will lose 30%. Students who miss
the test for university accepted valid reason (fill in a Short-term Absence Form,
www.concordia.ca/students/absence-form.html) would write the final for 70%.
• There is no fixed relationship between the % and the final letter grade

Course Outline:
1. Introduction to smart materials and structures; basic definitions and key concepts; course description
2. Refresh of basic principles of solid mechanics; overview of mathematical representations of smart
material systems; simple problems of applied mechanics
3. Mechanical metamaterials: material property charts; design of smart materials; engineering analysis
4. Piezoelectric Materials: electromechanical coupling in piezoelectric devices, direct and converse
piezoelectric effects, and constitutive equations for piezoelectric materials and systems.
5. Homogenization of smart material effective properties via standard mechanics approach; introduction
to FEA (ANSYS); procedures to link MATLAB and ANSYS
6. Shape Memory Alloys: properties of thermally activated shape memory materials and their physical
basis.
7. Electro-rheological (ER) and Magnetorheological (MR) Fluids and Elastomers: Overview of
properties of MR/ER fluids and elastomers.
8. Overview of manufacturing methods for smart materials and structures
9. Additive manufacturing and material characterization method of smart materials.
10. Applications: static bending of multilayered sandwich beams and adaptive damping using
piezoelectric shunts

Engineering Tools:
• Simulation software: ANSYS
• Programming language: Ansys Parametric Design Language (APDL)
• Programming Software: MATLAB

Project:
This course includes an individual project. Smart materials and/or structures will be designed and
analyzed. The details of the project will be provided by week 3 in Moodle.
Health and Safety Guidelines
All health and safety rules specific to this course can be found in the lab manual. General health and
safety instructions and available health and safety trainings are discussed at:
Safety Programs - Concordia University

ON CAMPUS RESOURCES
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• A-Z Student Services - Concordia University

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and resources available for students.
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