MATSE 440: Advanced Mechanical Properties of Solids

Textbook: R. W. Hertzberg, "Deformation and Fracture Mechanics of Engineering Materials," 4th Edition, Wiley, 1996

Catalog Description, Prerequisites and Schedule:

Advanced treatment of the mechanical behavior of solids; examines crystal plasticity, dislocations, point defects and grain boundaries, creep and fatigue behavior, fracture. Prerequisite: MATSE 306 or consent of instructor. 3 hours or 3/4 unit. 3hours lecture-discussion/week.

Course Topics:

1. Introduction
a. Strength of solids
b. Flaws in materials
2. Brittle Fracture
a. Griffith theory
b. Fracture statistics
3. Fracture with Limited Plasticity
a. Linear elastic fracture mechanics
b. Fracture toughness
c. Microstructural aspects of fracture
d. Environmental effects
e. Elastic-plastic fracture
4. Fatigue
a. Fatigue processes
b. Fatigue crack initiation
c. Fatigue crack propagation
d. Overload effect
e. Crack-size dependence
5. High Temperature Failures
a. Creep deformation
b. High temperature fracture
c. Creep design

Course Objectives:

1. To provide an advanced treatment of mechanical properties of materials which is built on solid mechanics, defects theory, thermodynamic and kinetic principles.
2. To examine the roles of material defects in mechanical response of materials.
3. To derive the theoretical framework for analyzing the roles of material defects in influencing the mechanical properties of a solid.
4. To apply materials science and mechanics principles to solve engineering design problems.
5. To understand how mechanical behavior may be affected by microstructure, loading condition, and service environment.
6. To present theoretical and empirical treatments of the effects of microstructure, loading condition and service environment on mechanical behavior of materials.
7. To introduce students current research problems in mechanical behavior of materials.

Course Outcomes:

1. Able to determine dependence of material strength on flaw geometry and size;
2. Able to derive and apply the Griffith's theory of fracture.
3. Able to conduct the Weibull statistical analysis of strengths.
4. Able to derive and apply the energy principle of fracture.
5. Able to derive linear elastic fracture mechanics principles.
6. Able to determine fracture properties of a material.
7. Able to suggest microstructural changes for improving fracture properties.
8. Able to solve engineering problems using fracture mechanics principles.
9. Able to analyze stress-corrosion cracking problems.
10. Able to conduct fatigue analysis using stress, strain and fracture mechanics approaches.
11. Able to interpret fatigue data obtained under different mechanical loading conditions.
12. Able to suggest microstructural development to improve fatigue properties.
13. Able to describe creep mechanims in crystalline solids.
14. Able to interpret creep data and perform creep analysis.

Assessment Tools:

1. Weekly homework problems
2. A midterm examination
3. A comprehensive final examination.

Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component:

100%

Prepared by:

Jian-Ku Shang, January, 2001