2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Laboratory courses in the mechanical behavior of materials often expose students to a variety of material types and experimental methods. While individual experiments focus on testing techniques that may require specific sample compositions and dimensions, there is value in examining materials across multiple contexts. In this short writeup (intended for presentation in the “activities with impact: experiments!” session) a culminating activity developed for an introductory materials laboratory course is described. The experiment, performed during the final week of the semester, tasks students with revisiting materials tested throughout the course and evaluating them from the perspective of material selection for mechanical design. Students measure density to calculate specific stiffness and strength, and qualitatively assess durability through observation of passive corrosion. Results of this investigation, combined with cost and other practical considerations, are used to make and justify material selection decisions. The experiment, which has run for several semesters, is engaging to students while providing an overarching course takeaway, linking laboratory exercises and lecture content to real-world engineering application.