Technical Engineering and Material Science Vocabulary

Practice flashcards covering technical engineering terms, drawing types, material properties, manufacturing processes, and joining techniques from the lecture notes.

general arrangement (GA)

A drawing showing the overall layout or assembly of a system or structure.

exploded view

A diagram or drawing that shows the individual components of a mechanism separated but in their relative positions to show how they fit together.

design brief

A set of guidelines, requirements, and objectives that define the scope of a design project.

superseded

A term used when a drawing or document has been replaced by a newer or more up-to-date version.

sign off

To formally approve or authorize a drawing, design, or project phase.

worst-case scenario

A planning or design approach that considers the most extreme or unfavorable conditions possible.

factor of safety

A multiplier applied to calculated loads or stresses to ensure a component is sized to handle more than its expected operating conditions.

tolerance

The permissible range of variation or deviation from a specified dimension in a manufacturing process.

ferrous metals

Metals that primarily consist of iron.

alloys

Metallic substances composed of two or more elements, typically a metal combined with other metals or carbon.

abrasion resistance

The ability of a material to withstand surface wear caused by friction or rubbing.

metal fatigue

The progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when a metal is subjected to cyclic loading.

creep

The tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform permanently under the influence of persistent mechanical stresses.

tensile strength

The maximum amount of stretching or pulling stress a material can withstand before breaking or failing.

ductile

A property of a material describing its ability to be stretched or drawn into a wire without fracturing.

malleable

A property of a material that allows it to be hammered or pressed into different shapes without cracking.

quenching

A heat treatment process involving the rapid cooling of a workpiece, usually in water or oil, to obtain specific material properties.

annealing

A heat treatment process used to soften a material, improve ductility, and relieve internal stresses.

case hardening

A process used to harden only the outer surface of a metal part while maintaining a relatively soft and tough core.

I-sections

Structural steel profiles shaped like the letter I, commonly used in construction as beams or columns.

swarf / chips

The waste material, such as small metal shavings or pieces, removed from a workpiece during machining operations.

kerf

The width of the cut or groove made by a saw blade or other cutting tool.

blanking

A metalworking process where a punch is used to cut a specific shape from a sheet of material, where the piece removed is the desired part.

heat-affected zone (HAZ)

The area of the base metal that has not been melted but has had its microstructure and properties altered by the heat of welding or cutting.

brazing

A joining process where a filler metal with a lower melting point than the base metal is melted and distributed between close-fitting parts by capillary action.