Teaching of materials and welding engineering to today's postgraduate mechanical engineers

Abstract

Rapid advances in technology have blurred traditional boundaries between engineering disciplines and forced mechanical engineering graduate courses to embrace new subject areas. These are not negative influences, but are simply a healthy response to rapidly advancing technologies. A particular example is the combining in one study program, studies of different engineering and structural materials (including composite materials, ceramics, polymers, etc.) and methods and technologies of brazing, joining by welding, bonding by glue, etc of these materials. Among all engineering programs, materials and mechanical engineering requires huge laboratories and expensive facilities, as students need to develop practical experience. In order to maintain an educational standard and quality, a university is forced to look for alternatives to hands-on practical laboratories. One of the alternatives is to utilize a wide variety of computer-aided learning packages and the simulation of physical-chemical processes in a welding pool and near to its border. This paper sets forth a case for integrating aspects of materials and joining technologies throughout a graduate curriculum.