Abstract:

The systematic selection methodology for engineering materials pioneered by Professor Mike Ashby at Cambridge University has revolutionized materials, design and product development education. It is visual, engaging, logical yet not very based on maths or numbers and, if you have Ansys Granta EduPack or Selector, it is interactive too.

Mike Ashby’s textbooks (university level) have outlined and paralleled the development of this selection philosophy. From the traditional style (from atoms to materials) Engineering Materials 1 & 2, authored with D. H. Jones at Cambridge University dating back to the 80’s, to the more advanced and complete Materials Selection from the 90’s, fully outlining the Ashby selection methodology (starting with material properties instead of atoms). An undergraduate level textbook, Materials, was later produced together with Hugh Sher cliff and Dave Cebon at Cambridge University. In this work we will exclude the more recent Materials and the Environment as well as Materials and Sustainability.

Although EduPack provides an extended experience of materials, there are still many resources available for educators without access to this software. There are several important groups that fall within this category. STEM institutions, underfunded colleges and universities, or those that lack IT facilities for licenses. There are also some traditionalists that prefer pen and paper to computer screens.

This poster provides an overview of open resources that are available for these groups that can support any materials teaching:
- Ashby Textbooks and exercises therein.
- Ashby Charts and Exercise units.
- Powerpoint Lecture Presentations to support theory.
- Case studies and MicroProjects.
Ansys Educational Resources (AER), Ansys Innovation Courses (AIC).

Keywords:

Materials Science, Design, Product Development, Visual.