535.800.21 - Independent Study
Description
An individually tailored, supervised project on a subject related to mechanical engineering. The content and expectations are formalized in negotiations between the student and the faculty sponsor. This course may only be taken in the second half of a student’s master degree program. All independent studies must be supervised by a current ME instructor (exceptions must be approved by the Mechanical Engineering Program Chair) and must rely on material from prior ME courses. The independent study project proposal form (see https://ep.jhu.edu/current-students/student-forms/) must be approved prior to registration.
Instructor
Andrew Lennon
Course Structure
Literature-based independent study technical elective course that will build on the fundamentals of micromechanical origins of strength-related properties in metals from EN.535.731 "Engineering Materials: Properties and Selection", with the ultimate objective of gaining an understanding of compositionally complex, high temperature shape memory alloys (SMAs). The independent study course is structured to build up to the main topic by first gaining an understanding of several sub-topics, including: traditional SMAs, common high temperature SMAs, and fundamental differences between compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) and traditional engineering alloys.
Course Topics
Sub-Topic 1: Conventional Shape Memory Alloys
* Focus on NiTi (Nitinol)
* How does NiTi work? (i.e., microstructural mechanisms behind shape memory effect)
Sub-Topic 2: “Typical” ternary high temperature SMA – NiTiHf
* How does Hf increase the transformation and operating temperature of NiTi?
Sub-Topic 3: Compositionally Complex Alloys (CCAs) … aka High Entropy Alloys (HEAs)
* How is their thermomechanical behavior different than traditional metal alloys?
Main Topic: Compositionally Complex Shape Memory Alloys
* How do they work?
* What is the current state of the art?
Course Goals
Primary objective is to gain an understanding of compositionally complex, high temperature shape memory alloys (SMAs).
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
- Be able to describe the microstructural and micromechanical mechanisms that give rise to the shape memory effect in conventional shape memory alloys.
- Be able to explain how ternary alloying additions shift the phase transformation temperature associated with the shape memory effect in the NiTi system.
- Be able to explain the fundamental characteristics of compositionally complex alloys (aka high entropy alloys) and how their thermomechanical behavior is different than traditional metal alloys.
- Be able to describe the current state of the art in compositionally complex shape memory alloys for high temperature applications, and what promising research directions exist to improve their performance.
Textbooks
No textbooks required.
Student Coursework Requirements
Student requirements:
- Performs literature searches and knowledge compilation to address milestones and ultimately the main independent study objective
- Presents results of literature research at weekly check-in meetings
- Compiles and presents final course product
- 75% (3x 25%): Active engagement in background research and discussion of topics in the weekly check-in meetings. Grade will be equally split into three "chunks", at roughly 4 week intervals throughout the semester.
- 25%: Final course product will be a presentation (well-organized PPT slide deck) or report document detailing the results of the literature search (what was learned) and the sources used (bibliography).
Grading Policy
EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).
| Score Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 100-97 | = A+ |
| 96-93 | = A |
| 92-90 | = A− |
| 89-87 | = B+ |
| 86-83 | = B |
| 82-80 | = B− |
| 79-77 | = C+ |
| 76-73 | = C |
| 72-70 | = C− |
| 69-67 | = D+ |
| 66-63 | = D |
| <63 | = F |
Academic Policies
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.
This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.
For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.
For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.