Combined Research and Curriculum Development of Web-based Educational Modules on Mechanical Behavior of Materials

We describe development of modules funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) program for Combined Research and Curriculum Development (CRCD). Construction of CRCD modules was designed both for research collaboration and educational pedagogy. Modules described here were used for teaching senior level undergraduate and first-year graduate level courses on mechanical behavior of materials that incorporate results of physics-based simulation models previously used by class instructors in their research. These modules were developed using a Java-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) called the Network Program Interface Builder (NPIB) that runs on a standard Web-server. Emphasis was placed on using existing Web-based commercial software and development of new Web-based software that could be used by others to create and maintain physics-based simulation models, and archive results. Strong emphasis was also placed on providing well documented user's guides so educators and researchers could build their own modules that would extend beyond the CRCD objectives of this project. For the educators and students, Web-access to simulation results allow instructors to monitor students' progress and enhance class participation in sharing and discussing results. As for the researchers NPIB can be used for collaborative development of new simulation models. For students in this project CRCD modules teach the basics of materials mechanical behavior that reflects the experience of the authors. The simulation results span various length scales, starting at the atomistic level, using embedded atom method techniques, and reaching finite element simulations at the continuum level. The modules attempt to stress the way in which macroscopic properties are controlled by phenomena at the atomistic and micro-structural levels. Advanced computation and visualization techniques, including simulation results in a CAVE™, are used to convey structure-property relationships where complex three-dimensional structures could be observed in a fully immersive virtual environment. Both courses were taught by an interdisciplinary team of materials scientists and engineering mechanicians. We will discuss our experience in teaching both courses and the lessons learned.