Materials

1
Materials Mechanics Laboratory

• Report Writing

Geoffrey Fisher and Ryan Breighner Texas Tech
University Fall 2007
2
Long Reports

• 3 of these throughout the semester
• Completed as a group with your lab partners

3
The Report As A Whole

• - 1 margins on all sides (note different than
  word default) -
• - Size 12 font -
• - Arial or Times New Roman -
• - Double spaced -
• - All pages will have a page number except for
  the title page and the table of contents -
• - Page numbers centered at bottom of page -
• - Start new sections on a new page -
• Number your equations with parentheses and define
  the variables
• e.g. F ma (1)
• Avoid personal pronouns
• e.g., The force was applied rather than We
  applied the force

4
The Sections

• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Abstract
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Introduction
• Theory

• 8) Test Setup
• 9) Procedure
• 10) Results Discussion
• 11) Conclusion
• 12) References
• 13) Appendices

5
Title Page
Hardness Measurement of Metals Group member
1 Group member 2 Group member 3 Group member
4 ME 3328 50X A, B, C, or D Date
Submitted Instructor Your Lab Instructor
6
Table of Contents

• Length lt1 page

7
Abstract

• Length ½ to ¾ of a page
• Page number is i
• Brief summary of objective and major results
• Be quantitative
• No figures, tables, references, or equations
• - It helps to write this last

8
List of Figures

• - Length varies
• - Only necessary if more than one figure is used
• - Reference the figure in the text before showing
  it
• The label Figure 1 is written below the
  figure (no space between figure and label)
• Cite all figures not generated by you or your
  group

9
List of Tables

• Length varies
• Same rules that apply to List of Figures apply
  here with one difference
• The label Table 1 is written above the table
  rather than below it

10
Introduction

• Length ½ to ¾ of a page
• Page number is 1
• Be general rather than specific to your
  experiment
• Write in present tense
• Purpose is to provide background and motivate the
  reader

11
Theory

• Length ¾ to 1 page of text (excluding equations)
• Provides theoretical background of experiment
• Still more general than specific
• Advantages and disadvantages of methods used
• Relevant equations
• Cite references

12
Test Setup

• Length ½ to 1 page of text
• Describes purpose and function of equipment used
• Include schematic or photograph
• Model name and company (short form can be used
  after initial naming)
• e.g., initial Instron 8500 tensile testing
  machine, afterwards Instron machine or
  tensile testing machine
• Avoid writing the procedure

13
Procedure

• Length ½ to 1 page
• Be concise
• Write in chronological order
• Use past tense
• Be quantitative when possible
• e.g., A load of 50 N was applied rather than
  A load was applied
• For experiments with repetition, dont rewrite
  the entire procedure
• Do not simply list the steps

14
Results Discussion

• Length 1 to 2 pages
• Quantitative results
• Summarize in text of report
• Use tables and graphs
• Graphs included should be representative (put
  additional graphs in an appendix)
• Discuss the meaning of your results
• Compare with published values if possible
• Discuss the validity of your results
• State any sources of error

15
Conclusion

• Length ½ page
• Results Discussion in concise form
• Reiterate
• Major results
• Explanation of those results
• Sources of error
• State any future recommendations

16
References

• Length varies
• List every reference cited in text here
• List in alphabetical order (authors last name)
• Two ways to cite within the report
• Authors last name and publish year (Smith, 2003)
• Reference number 1
• Format for 1st method on Reference page
• Smith, William. Foundations of Materials Science
  and Engineering, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill, 1993.
• Format for 2nd method on Reference page
• 1 Smith, William. Foundations of Materials
  Science and Engineering,
• 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill, 1993.

17
Appendices

• Length varies
• Sample calculations
• Data sheet from lab
• Additional Figures

18
Equations

• Use Microsoft Equation Editor, MathCAD or LaTeX
  to generate your equations
• Should look like
• NOT
• n1-(1/rk-1)(((rk)-1)/(k(rc-1)) (1)

19
Short Reports

• 3 throughout course
• Completed individually

20
General Short Report Guidelines

• Between 1.5 and 2.5 pages in length (excluding
  appendicies)
• No cover sheet or table of contents
• Formatting should be same as long reports
• Only 3 sections
• Introduction
• Methods and Setup
• Results and Conclusion
• NO Photos or Images in body of report, put them
  in an appendix and reference in the text.

21
Short Report Introduction

• 1/2 page
• No tables or equations
• Be general and write in terms that a non-engineer
  can understand
• Mention the objective, method, and primary
  findings, but be brief
• Write in present tense

22
Short Report Methods and Setup

• 1/2 - 3/4 page
• Can include equations but they should be used
  sparingly
• Tell briefly what was done and how it was done
• Discuss how data was analyzed
• You will not have room to talk about the
  procedure, so explain the method (more general)
• Write in past tense

23
Short Report Results and Conclusion

• 1 page
• Should be the longest section
• Discuss what your results were and what they mean
• What important conclusions were made?
• Sources of Error
• Recommendations for future experiments

24
Short Report Appendicies

• Short reports always require that data sheets be
  appended
• Sample Calculations must also be included
• Label appendices (Appendix A., etc.)
• Put all images, graphs, tables, and most
  equations in the appendix. Labeling guidelines
  are the same as for long reports (location of
  label) but no lists of figures or tables are
  necessary