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

该项目正在以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为基础，开发一个实验室课程和实验室。该实验室为马里兰大学(UMD)航空航天(AERO)、材料科学(MSE)和机械工程(MECH)系的本科生提供将材料的纳米级结构与宏观物理性质联系起来的综合实验室体验。正在开发两个实验系统，将通过使用微型测试样本促进课程的变化：1)一对微拉伸测试仪，一个用于常规单轴测试，一个具有最先进的双轴测试能力，以及2)集成的纳米压痕/原子力显微镜测试系统。UMD的三个系(至少)共享实验室课程和设施，使用一个普通的大学本科实验室进行材料的测试和表征。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一种新的跨学科观点，强调微观和纳米技术，并将纳米和微米尺度的表征与宏观性质联系起来。正在开发的课程和相关的实验室设施将材料表征和测试方面的最新研究纳入本科课程。这项研究包括使用原子力显微镜和材料的纳米机械测试，以及微机械系统的制造和测试。这些技术和概念没有包括在本科课程中，代表着当前主题和发展进入教育系统的转移。正在开发的实验模块将使学生接触到这个快速发展的领域，并在微电子、封装和MEMS领域提供直接应用于现代制造的培训。在修订后的实验课程中开发的实验模块和程序将与元数据一起在网上提供，以便在国家科学数字图书馆中编制索引，以允许其他机构采用或修改材料以供自己使用。该实验室每学期将惠及近400名学生，其中约20%为女性，15%为少数民族。该实验室还将帮助UMD已经为高中生开展的广泛的外展活动。

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.