Development of Educational Materials and Acquisition of Equipment for a Nanoscale to Microscale Engineering Laboratory

该项目是根据伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校材料测试教学实验室的概念和设施开发实验室课程和实验室。该实验室为马里兰州大学（UMD）航空航天（AERO），材料科学（MSE）和机械工程（MECH）系的本科生提供综合实验室体验，将材料的纳米结构与宏观物理特性联系起来。两个实验系统正在开发中，这将有助于通过使用微型试样的课程的变化：1）一对微拉伸测试仪，一个用于传统的单轴测试，一个具有最先进的双轴测试能力，和2）集成纳米压痕/AFM测试系统。实验室课程和设施正在通过使用一个共同的大学范围的本科实验室进行材料的测试和表征，在UMD（至少）三个部门共享。这种跨部门和领域的联合本科实验室设施的共享代表了本科课程的新的跨学科观点，强调微观和纳米技术，以及纳米和微米尺度表征与宏观特性的联系。正在开发的课程和相关的实验室设施将材料表征和测试的最新研究整合到本科课程中。该研究涵盖了原子力显微镜的使用和材料的纳米力学测试，沿着微机械系统的制造和测试。这些技术和概念尚未在本科课程中涵盖，代表了当前主题和发展到教育系统的转移。正在开发的实验室模块将使学生接触到这个快速发展的领域，并提供在微电子，包装和MEMS领域现代制造中直接应用的培训。在修订后的实验室课程中开发的实验模块和程序将在网络上提供，并在国家科学数字图书馆中提供索引元数据，以允许其他机构采用或修改材料供自己使用。该实验室每学期将使近400名学生受益，其中约20%是妇女，15%是少数民族。该实验室还将帮助已经在UMD的高中生开展广泛的外展活动。

This project is developing a laboratory curriculum and laboratory based on the concept and facilities of the Materials Testing Instructional Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The laboratory is providing undergraduate students in the Departments of Aerospace (AERO), Materials Science (MSE), and Mechanical Engineering (MECH) at the University of Maryland (UMD) with an integrated lab experience that connects the nanoscale structure of materials to the macroscopic physical properties. Two experimental systems are being developed, which will facilitate the changes in the curriculum through the use of miniature test specimens: 1) a pair of micro-tensile testers, one for conventional uniaxial testing and one with state-of-the-art biaxial testing capability, and 2) an integrated nanoindentation/AFM testing system. The laboratory curriculum and facilities are being shared across (at least) three Departments at UMD through the use of a common college-wide undergraduate laboratory for the testing and characterization of materials. This sharing of joint undergraduate laboratory facilities across Departments and fields represents a new interdisciplinary view of the undergraduate curriculum that emphasizes micro- and nano-technology, and connection of nanometer and micron scale characterization to macroscopic properties. The curriculum being developed and associated laboratory facilities integrates recent research in materials characterization and testing into the undergraduate curriculum. The research covers the use of atomic force microscopy and nanomechanical testing of materials along with fabrication and testing of micromechanical systems. These techniques and concepts have not been covered in the undergraduate curriculum and represent the transference of current topics and developments into the educational system. The lab modules being developed will expose students to this rapidly developing field and provide training with direct application in modern manufacturing in the areas of microelectronics, packaging, and MEMs. The lab modules and procedures developed in this revised laboratory curriculum will be provided on the web with metadata for indexing in the National Science Digital Library to allow other institutions to either adopt or modify the materials for their own use. This laboratory will benefit close to 400 students a semester, of which approximately 20% are women and 15% are minorities. This laboratory will also aid the extensive outreach activities for high school students already in place at UMD.