THE AIM OF THE CLASS IS TO ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MATERIALS USED IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, TO PERFORM TESTS ON MATERIALS AND TO COMPREHEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM THEIR USE.
teacher profile teaching materials
The frontal lectures will introduce fundamental concepts related to materials of primary interest in the civil engineering field (such as concrete and metals, with references to polymers and composite materials), while also providing an overview of cutting-edge developments in the sector, such as structural health monitoring, the role of materials in Smart Cities and transportation infrastructure, smart materials, self-healing materials, and nanocomposites.
The course will then continue with group-based experimental activities, during which students will work on the fabrication of material samples and their characterization. The characterization techniques may include mechanical, dynamic, molecular, and electro-mechanical analyses, depending on the assigned topic.
The proposed project topics may range from the production and characterization of conventional civil engineering materials to the design of innovative materials aimed at addressing major contemporary technological challenges, such as structural monitoring, environmental sustainability, durability, reliability, and energy efficiency — including applications in transport and road infrastructure.
For non-attending students, the course will consist of theoretical lectures and exercises on the following topics: mechanical behavior of materials, crystal structures and their defects, diffusion, phase diagrams (Fe, Fe-C, and metallic alloys), fatigue, creep, concrete, polymers, wood, and composites.
For further reading, the following textbook may be used as a reference:
W.D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering, any edition.
Programme
The course program is divided into two parts: a brief initial theoretical introduction and an extensive section dedicated to experimental laboratory activities, which will take place at the Department’s Multifunctional Materials Laboratory.The frontal lectures will introduce fundamental concepts related to materials of primary interest in the civil engineering field (such as concrete and metals, with references to polymers and composite materials), while also providing an overview of cutting-edge developments in the sector, such as structural health monitoring, the role of materials in Smart Cities and transportation infrastructure, smart materials, self-healing materials, and nanocomposites.
The course will then continue with group-based experimental activities, during which students will work on the fabrication of material samples and their characterization. The characterization techniques may include mechanical, dynamic, molecular, and electro-mechanical analyses, depending on the assigned topic.
The proposed project topics may range from the production and characterization of conventional civil engineering materials to the design of innovative materials aimed at addressing major contemporary technological challenges, such as structural monitoring, environmental sustainability, durability, reliability, and energy efficiency — including applications in transport and road infrastructure.
For non-attending students, the course will consist of theoretical lectures and exercises on the following topics: mechanical behavior of materials, crystal structures and their defects, diffusion, phase diagrams (Fe, Fe-C, and metallic alloys), fatigue, creep, concrete, polymers, wood, and composites.
Core Documentation
The course materials differ for attending and non-attending students. They will be distributed during the course and uploaded to the Moodle platform in separate folders: "Course Materials for Attending Students" and "Course Materials for Non-Attending Students".For further reading, the following textbook may be used as a reference:
W.D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering, any edition.
Type of delivery of the course
The course will be presented through theoretical presentations and exercises on specific topics. The students will also have the possibility to do optional experimental activities whose contents will be coordinated on the base of the number of applications.Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for laboratory experimental activities and for students who intend to take the intermediate assessments (see the program and course materials for attending students). Attendance is not mandatory for students who plan to take the exam based exclusively on theoretical content and exercises (see the program and course materials for non-attending students).Type of evaluation
The exam format varies depending on whether students are attending (i.e., participating in laboratory activities) or non-attending (i.e., not participating in laboratory activities). Attending students are required to pass two separate assessments to complete the course: • Assessment 1: written and oral questions related to the theoretical content covered in the first part of the course; • Assessment 2: related to the experimental activity carried out, to be presented as a written technical report (group work) and a group PowerPoint presentation. Students can choose from the following options for completing the assessments: 1. Two intermediate assessments (midterms): Assessment 1 at the end of the theoretical part; Assessment 2 at the end of the course. 2. Hybrid mode: the student may choose to take Assessment 1 and Assessment 2 at different times, selecting one of the following options: a) Assessment 1 during the course and Assessment 2 during a regular exam session; b) Assessment 2 during the course and Assessment 1 during a regular exam session; c) Both assessments (1 and 2) during a regular exam session. Non-attending students may take the exam only during regular exam sessions, which will consist of a written test (problem-solving exercises) and an oral exam (theoretical questions), based on a differentiated syllabus.