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Unit outline_

BMET5944: Bioinspired Materials: Design and Fabrication

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

BMET5944 equips students with the state-of-the-art knowledge about the design and development of new generations of multifunctional materials by learning from nature. The unit covers: (a) the construction, deformation and failure behaviour of hard and soft natural materials which confer them with outstanding mechanical properties and multi-functionalities such as shape-morphing, self-healing and damage sensing, (b) the fabrication techniques to implement similar principles in engineering materials in order to improve their performance, (c) the theoretical and experimental approaches to study the mechanics of resulting materials, and (d) examples of bioinspired materials in industries, current challenges of the field and future perspectives.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Biomedical Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

1000-level materials science and mechanics.

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Seyed Mohammad Mirkhalaf Valashani, mohammad.mirkhalaf@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Seyed Mohammad Mirkhalaf Valashani, mohammad.mirkhalaf@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Final Exam
35% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Small continuous assessment Weekly tutorial quiz
Tutorial-based 10 small assessments during semester, each with 1% weight
10% Multiple weeks 2 pages/2 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation Participation in class discussions
Participation in class discussions, not just presence
5% Multiple weeks 4 hours per week
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Midsemester quiz
Midsemester quiz
20% Week 07
Due date: 04 Oct 2021 at 09:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Assignment group assignment Research project
A research project on a subject relevant to course
15% Week 10 4 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO7 LO6 LO5
Presentation group assignment Research project presentation
Presentation on the research project
15% Week 13 15-20 min
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?
Group assignment with individually assessed component = group assignment with individually assessed component ?
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Final exam individual assessment (35%) 

Mid-term quiz individual assessment (20%)

Research project group assessment (15%)

Research project presentation group assessment (15%)

Tutorial mini individual quizzes (10%)

Participation in class discussions (5%)

Assessment criteria

Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS for Pass and FA for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy.

Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies. Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10% per day for the research project and mini weekly quizzes ; 0 for no show up for the other assessments unless special consideration

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Why Bio-inspiration? Introduction to the course Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 02 Mechanics I: Introduction Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Mechanics II: Mechanics of biological and bioinspired composites Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Biological materials I: Building blocks and construction Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 05 Biological materials II: Toughening mechanisms in hard biological materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Bioinspired bone-like and nacre-like materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Bioinspired Topologically Interlocked Materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Bioinspired shape morphing structures Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Bioinspired nanomaterials for sustainable energy and environmental applications Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Bioinspired Functionally Graded Materials Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 11 Wearable devices for biosensing Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Gradient structures in nature and their synthetic counterparts Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Group presentations, course reflection, and overview, preparation for final exam Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO6 LO7

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Mathematics and physics: Ability to drive and use equations that describe the elasticity and fracture of biological and bioinspired composites
  • LO2. Engineering: Ability to explain the processing-structure-performance relationships in structurally complex biological and bioinspired materials (in their own words)
  • LO3. Engineering: Ability to interpret the stress-strain curves of biological and bioinspired materials and correlate the curves to their functions in nature and engineering
  • LO4. Problem-solving: Develop skills in the design and development of materials with complex internal architectures to fulfill their functional requirements
  • LO5. Interdisciplinary: Demonstrate knowledge in how bioinspiration can lead to better materials in engineering
  • LO6. Communication and Inquiry/ Research: Effective communications and research skills in the group project/presentation, and in classroom discussions
  • LO7. Project and Team Skills: Critical thinking in the literature review, and ability to work in a team for the assignments and the group project.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.