LEARNING GOALS
The final qualification is that the student is able to explore alternatives and answers to a specific research question related to surfaces and to discuss their validity, limitations and/or relevance for application in a specific context.

Course Description
Traditional surfaces are passive and usually have a single, non-adaptable, purpose. In contrast, active and/or tunable surfaces can actively respond to changing conditions. Examples are tactile surfaces to be used on the next generation of human input devices and self-healing surfaces, i.e. surfaces that respond to overloading by repairing themselves.

CONTENT
This course covers individual learning assignments and activities within the field of specialisation. The course is not scheduled in the time tables of the programme. Before starting the content and the study load will be agreed upon by the student and the supervisor. The answers to the research question may be found by literature study, by experiments, by (numerical) analysis and modelling or a combination of these.


RELATION TO OTHER COURSES
Mechanics, Solids & Surfaces, Introduction to Tribology, Durability of Consumer Products, Surface Engineering for Look and Feel, Design of Surface for Comfort and Touch.