Material
You've uploaded two Mechanical Engineering 4th semester exam
papers: Dec 2020 and May 2023. Below are suggested answers
for the Dec 2020 paper (BTME-404-18: Materials Engineering).
Let’s go section by section.
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SECTION-A (2 Marks Each)
1. Difference between Atomic Number and Atomic Mass:
Atomic Number: Number of protons in an atom’s nucleus.
Atomic Mass: Sum of protons and neutrons.
2. Metallic Bond & Characteristics:
Definition: Electrostatic attraction between positive metal ions
and delocalized electrons.
Properties: High electrical/thermal conductivity, ductility,
malleability, luster.
3. FCC vs BCC Unit Cell (with sketch):
FCC: Atoms at each corner and centers of all cube faces.
BCC: Atoms at each corner and one in the center.
FCC: More closely packed than BCC.
4. Theoretical Yield Strength:
It is the stress required to move atoms past each other in a
perfect crystal without dislocations.
5. Steady-State Diffusion:
Diffusion where the concentration profile doesn’t change with
time.
6. Phase:
A physically distinct, homogeneous region of a material with
uniform composition and structure.
7. Lever Rule Applications:
Used to determine phase compositions and fractions in binary
phase diagrams.
8. TTT Diagram Info:
Shows time required at a constant temperature to transform
austenite into other phases like pearlite, bainite, martensite.
9. Pearlite:
A lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite formed by eutectoid
transformation in steels.
10. Stainless Steel:
Steel containing >10.5% chromium, offering corrosion resistance.
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SECTION-B (5 Marks Each)
(Attempt Any Four)
11. Edge vs Screw Dislocation:
Edge: Extra half-plane of atoms inserted.
Screw: Spiral ramp resulting from shear stress.
Key Difference: Displacement direction is perpendicular (edge) vs
parallel (screw).
12. Slip vs Twinning:
Slip: Dislocation motion across slip planes.
Twinning: Symmetrical lattice reorientation.
Slip: Common at higher temperatures, Twinning: Usually at high
strain rates or low temperatures.
13. Phase Diagram Info & Isomorphous Diagram:
Info: Melting points, solidification, phase compositions, phase
proportions.
Diagram: Label liquidus, solidus, and solvus lines for Cu-Ni
system.
14. Full vs Partial Annealing (Fe-C Diagram):
Full: Heating above A3/Acm and cooling slowly to form coarse
pearlite.
Partial: Heating between A1 and A3, resulting in refined structure.
15. Tempering after Hardening:
Why: Reduces brittleness and internal stresses.
Stages:
1. Removal of retained austenite.
2. Precipitation of carbides.
3. Coalescence of carbides.
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SECTION-C (10 Marks Each)
(Attempt Any Two)
16. Surface Hardening Treatments (Carburizing & Flame
Hardening):
Carburizing: Heating in carbon-rich atmosphere to increase
surface carbon content.
Flame Hardening: Heating surface with high-temp flame and then
quenching for hard martensitic layer.
Other methods: nitriding, induction hardening, cyaniding.
17. Alloying Elements in Steel & Effects:
Classification: Ferrite stabilizers (Cr, Mo), Austenite stabilizers (Ni,
Mn), carbide formers (V, Ti).
Si: Increases strength and magnetic properties.
W: Forms stable carbides, enhances wear resistance.
Al: Grain refiner, deoxidizer, forms nitrides.
18. Hardeneability & Diffusion Factors:
Hardenability: Ability to harden in depth upon quenching.
Factors Affecting Diffusion: Temperature, time, concentration
gradient, crystal structure, atomic size.
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Would you also like detailed answers for the May 2023 paper, or
do you want these in PDF format for easy study?
2023
Here are the suggested answers for the May 2023 ME (4th
Sem) – Materials Engineering (BTME-404-18) exam:
SECTION-A (2 Marks Each)
1. Atomic Radius: Distance from the nucleus to the outermost
electron shell of an atom.
2. Point Defects in Crystals: Vacancy, interstitial, substitutional
atoms.
3. Tetrahedral Site: A void space surrounded by four atoms
arranged in a tetrahedron.
4. Fick’s First Law: ; diffusion flux proportional to concentration
gradient.
5. Phase: Homogeneous region of matter with distinct physical
and chemical properties.
6. Eutectic Reaction: Liquid → α + β; transformation at a fixed
temperature in a binary alloy.
7. TTT Diagram: Time-Temperature-Transformation diagram;
shows transformation of austenite over time at constant
temperatures.
8. Purpose of Normalizing: Refines grain size, improves
toughness, removes internal stresses.
9. Recovery: Sub-process of annealing that reduces dislocations
and internal stresses without major recrystallization.
10. Alloy Steel: Steel mixed with other elements (e.g., Ni, Cr) to
improve mechanical properties.
SECTION-B (5 Marks Each)
11. Crystal Defects:
Point defects: Vacancy, interstitial.
Line defects: Edge and screw dislocations.
Surface defects: Grain boundaries.
12. Edge and Screw Dislocations:
Edge: Extra half-plane; distortion perpendicular to motion.
Screw: Helical structure; distortion parallel to motion.
Burger’s vector defines magnitude and direction of lattice
distortion.
13. Hume-Rothery Rules for Solid Solutions:
Similar atomic size (<15% difference), crystal structure,
electronegativity, and valency.
Example: Cu-Ni is a solid solution; Cu-Ag is not.
14. Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram (0–6.67%C):
Draw and label a Fe-C diagram showing:Phases: Ferrite,
austenite, cementite
Eutectoid point at 0.76%C, 727°C
Eutectic point at 4.3%C, 1147°C
15. Isothermal Heat Treatment of Steels:
Austenitize, hold at specific temp, quench to form specific
microstructures.
Example: Bainite forms between 250–550°C, pearlite above
550°C.
SECTION-C (10 Marks Each)
16. Diffusion in Solids:
Fick’s First Law: Steady-state diffusion
Fick’s Second Law: Non-steady-state
Applications: Carburizing, doping semiconductors
Factors: Temperature, concentration gradient, crystal defects
17. Heat Treatment of Steels:
Annealing: Softens metal, improves ductility.
Normalizing: Refines grains, better mechanical properties.
Hardening: Rapid quenching for martensitic structure.
Tempering: Reduces brittleness after hardening.
Diagrams: Show temperature ranges and microstructure
evolution.
18. Alloying Elements in Steels:
Ni: Toughness, corrosion resistance
Cr: Hardness, wear resistance
Mo: High-temp strength
V: Grain refinement, strength
Mn: Increases hardenability
Applications: Tools, construction, automotive
Let me know if you want these answers in PDF format or need
diagrams too.
