Prior courses in solid mechanics: "Mechanics of Solids and Structures" was FBD's and strength of materials, and "Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering" focused more on building and aerospace structures. But no prior solid mechanics course, per se.
Undergraduate major: Engineering, concentration in Materials Science
Strengths and weaknesses re this course: I never learned solid mechanics at this level before or with such emphasis on derivations. As an engineering student facing practical problems in college, I always found it adequate to understand the application and have a physical sense of formulas. I never took a formal course on PDE's, so my knowledge of those is limited, and I haven't used vector calculus since freshman year of college, since my experience with materials science was more physical and qualitative in nature. On the other hand, I sometimes have an easier time visualizing physical phenomena because of my materials classes, and that could be halpful in ES 240. I have been reviewing linear algebra lately to clean out the cobwebs from eigenvectors and other long-unused tools.
Research group: none yet, as I am a G1
Likely research direction: Materials, nanotechnology (thin films, imaging and analysis, etc), failure analysis
Solid Mechanics helping in research: Knowledge of the behavior of solids under stress conditions is central to anything I do in failure analysis (fractures and deformations) and is key to nanotechnology frontiers such as the microtensile testing devices I am investigating this semester in 299r. Much of materials science is mechanical in nature, and this course should bolster my materials background.
Solid Mechanics contributing to education: This course should allow me to develop a more robust physical and (yes) mathematical understanding of solid phenomena. Combined with the AP 282 course, I should be much more prepared in the mechanical-materials science area where my undergraduate education was headed. Also, in any mechanical design context, both around the home and on professional projects, solid mechanics principles will help me avoid poor choices, such as stress concentrators or inefficient component dimensions.