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ME40212: Biomimetics

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 6
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: ME40212 Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
To introduce the materials, structures and mechanisms of natural organisms.
To show how organisms can be analysed as engineering structures using standard techniques.
To extract principles of biological structures and reformulate them as engineering structures.
To use concepts from biology to solve problems in engineering.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* Understand fundamental concepts of biological design such as scaling, hierarchy of structures and materials, designing for high strains and low loads, energy conservation, adaptive design, damage control.
* Understand the implications of biology for advanced engineering and product design.

Skills:
Problem solving; written communication; working independently - taught, facilitated and assessed.

Content:
Biological fibres, fillers and ceramics; composites; soft structures; inflatable structures; mechanical properties and testing; structural hierarchy; control of fracture; scaling; factors of safety; cellular materials; design of skeletons and other supportive structures; locomotion (walking, running, flying, swimming); power amplification mechanisms; senses; design of plants, prestressing; deployable structures; design of simple robots; tough materials (armour, blast containment); design for fatigue; adaptive structures; smart materials; neural networks; genetic algorithms and programming; structures made by animals and their environmental advantages; architecture. Topics for self study that could be examined.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ME40212 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEXX-AFM02 : MEng (hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEXX-AKM02 : MEng (hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM05 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM05 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM06 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM06 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM42 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM42 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM43 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM43 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design, Innovation and German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM17 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM17 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM18 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM18 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM39 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and French (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM39 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM40 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and German (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM40 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing, Management and German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • TEME-AFM10 : MSc Engineering Design (Full-time) - Year 1

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.