Materials Science

This course introduces basic properties of materials; how properties are related to microstructures; how microstructures are controlled by processing, and how materials are formed and joined. This course deals mostly with metals; however, properties of other engineering materials are discussed. 

The course aims at in-depth studies within some area of materials technology. A practical or theoretical study in the area in which the student wishes to deepen their knowledge.

Production technology covers major part of manufacturing processes applied for creating form and shape of the product. The manufacturing processes covered in this course include: casting processes, such as sand casting, shell mold casting, die casting and investment casting; forming processes, such as hot and cold forging, rolling, extrusion, bending, deep drawing, wire drawing and spinning; shearing operations such as blanking and fine blanking; metal cutting methods such as turning, milling grinding, threading and drilling; non-traditional machining processes, such as chemical, electrochemical, erosive, laser and ultrasound machining; joining processes including metallurgy, weldability of the materials and different welding methods, such as fusion welding and solid state welding processes. 

This course provides research training for exchange students. Students work on a research project under the guidance of assigned faculty members. Through a full-time commitment, students improve their research skills by participating in the different phases of research, including development of research plans, proposals, data analysis, and presentation of research results. A pass/no pass grade is assigned based a progress report, self-evaluation, midterm report, presentation, and final report.

This six-week summer course provides individual research training through the experience of belonging to a specific laboratory at Tohoku University. Students are assigned to a laboratory research group with Japanese and international students under the supervision of Tohoku University faculty. They participate in various group activities, including seminars, for the purpose of training in research methods and developing teamwork skills. The specific topic studied depends on the instructor in charge of the laboratory to which each student is assigned. The methods of assessment vary with the student's project and laboratory instructor. Students submit an abstract concerning the results of their individual research each semester and present the results near the end of this program.

This course serves as a starting point to develop an engineer’s ability to select a material based on cost and performance, understand limitations and how properties change in service and the ability to critically assess new materials for a given application. Furthermore, this course provides an introduction to materials engineering and materials science. It also introduces the primary classes of materials, and to develop an understanding of types of interatomic, crystal, and molecular bonding in engineering materials and their influence on mechanical properties. Students develop an understanding of the modes of failure for different classes of materials. This course introduces brittle fracture, and to develop an understanding of the ways in which a flaw within a material can influence its response to loading.

The objectives of this course include: (1) Learn concepts of engineering design including integrated product/process development, Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and DFX (Design for manufacturability, quality, affordability, etc.); (2) Learn to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary design teams in the real world. (3) Fundamental training for entrepreneurship.

This is a special studies course involving an internship with a corporate, public, governmental, or private organization, arranged with the Study Center Director or Liaison Officer. Specific internships vary each term and are described on a special study project form for each student. A substantial paper or series of reports is required. Units vary depending on the contact hours and method of assessment. The internship may be taken during one or more terms but the units cannot exceed a total of 12.0 for the year.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.