Mechanics of Materials & Materials MS Focus Area

Mechanics of Materials 

Mechanics of materials is an area focusing on quantitative description of the motion and deformation of solid materials subjected to forces, temperature changes, electrical voltage or other external stimuli. At ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder, we apply theoretical modeling, computational simulation and experimental characterization to study a wide range of soft materials, from biological tissues and gels to smart polymers. Our applications cover a long list of current and emerging technologies including tissue engineering, membrane filtration, stretchable electronics, smart materials, medical robots and innovative surgical devices.

Materials

The Materials program offers students a mixture of high-quality education and cutting-edge research. Faculty members carry out research in many different areas including polymers, thin films, soft actuators, battery materials, laser ultrasonics, flash sintering, nanomaterials for energy, heat transfer and meta materials. Graduate students have ample opportunities to choose to specialize in various aspects of materials science and engineering.

Recommended Coursework

All courses listed below can also count towards the

Strongly Recommended

  • MCEN 5023 Solid Mechanics or CVEN 5131 Continuum Mechanics & Elasticity
  • MCEN 5173, ASEN 5007 or CVEN 5511 Finite Element Analysis

Recommended

  • MCEN 5021 Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
  • MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structure
  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5133 Intro to Tissue Biomechanics
  • MCEN 5153 Fracture Mechanics
  • MCEN 5173 Finite Element Analysis
  • MCEN 5174 Failure of Engineering Materials 

Specialized: Mechanics Interest

  • MCEN 5183 Mechanics of Composite Materials
  • MCEN 5293 Mechanics of Soft Matter
  • MCEN 5228 Thin Film Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Mechanics of Snow
  • CVEN 5161 Advanced Mechanics of Materials I
  • CVEN 6161 Advanced Mechanics of Materials 2
  • PHYS 5210 Theoretical Mechanics

Specialized: Computational Mechanics Interest

  • CVEN 5537 Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering 
  • CVEN 7511 Computational Finite Inelasticity and Multiphase Mechanics 

Specialized: Design Mechanics Interest

  • MCEN 5125 Optimal Design
  • ASEN 5218 Large Space Structures Design
  • ASEN 5148 Spacecraft Design

Specialized: Materials Interest

  • MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structure
  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5298 Introduction to Polymers
  • MCEN 5228 Thin Film Materials
  • MCEN 6184 Structure & Properties of Polymers
  • MSEN 5270 Materials Characterization for Engineering 
  • MSEN 5470 Materials Composition and Structure 

Specialized: Micro/Nanomechanics Interest

  • MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structure
  • MCEN 5636 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 1
  • MCEN 5248 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 2
  • PHYS 5250 Intro Quantum Mechanics 1
  • PHYS 5260 Intro Quantum Mechanics 2 
  • CHEM 5571 Surface Science

Strongly Recommended

  • MCEN 5023 Solid Mechanics or CVEN 5131 Continuum Mechanics & Elasticity
  • MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structure
  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Introduction to Polymers
  • MCEN 5293 Mechanics of Soft Materials 

Specialized: Biomaterials Interest

  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5113 Mechanics of Cancer 
  • MCEN 6184 Structure & Properties of Polymers
  • IPHY 5540 Biomechanics

Specialized: Mechanics of Materials Interest

  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5174 Failure of Engineering Materials 
  • MCEN 5228 Introduction to Polymers
  • MCEN 5228 Thin Film Materials
  • MCEN 6184 Structure & Properties of Polymers

Specialized: Nanomaterials Interest

  • MCEN 5115 Mechatronics & Robotics
  • CHEN 5836 Nanomaterials 

Specialized: Electrical/Optical Materials Interest

  • ECEN 5345 Introduction to Solid State Physics
  • MCEN 5636 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 1
  • MCEN 5248 Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems 2
  • CHEN 5836 Nanomaterials