MSE 38200  Mechanical Response of Materials

Credits and Contact Hours: 3 credits. Weekly Schedule for 15 weeks: three 50 minute lectures.

Instructors or Course Coordinators: Xinghang, Zhang, D. Johnson

Textbook: “Mechanical Behavior of Materials”, 2nd edition, Thomas H. Courtney, Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL, 2005.

Specific Course Information

  1. Catalog Description: This course encompasses deformation-based microscopic mechanisms, including dislocation motion, diffusion, and viscoplasticity. Macroscopic mechanical response of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites will be related to elasticity and plasticity concepts for single crystal, polycrystalline, and amorphous materials. Practical design considerations for deformation will be included as well as an introduction to fracture mechanisms.
  2. Prerequisites: MSE 25000 and MA 26500 (or MA 26200).
  3. Course Status: MSE 38200 is a required course.

Specific Goals for the Course

1. All Students

A. Conversant with conventional nomenclature, units and notation of mechanical behavior. Examples:

  • Stress, strain, yield strength, fracture strength
  • Yield criteria, flow rules, creep, fracture

B. Able to estimate relative ranges and values for important properties of common engineering materials. Examples:

  • Young's modulus at room temperature for steels versus most polymers.
  • Yield strength ranges for ductile metals.

C. Recognition of mechanisms for important mechanical behaviors. Examples:

  • Plastic deformation by dislocation glide.
  • Plastic deformation by molecular rearrangement.
  • Dilatant deformation processes.
  • Strengthening mechanisms in crystalline solids.

2. Most Students

A. Able to predict mechanical responses based on given information. Examples:

  • Will yielding occur given a stress state and properties?
  • Will fracture occur given a stress state and properties?
  • How will the material change shape for the applied deformation?
  • Which slip system(s) will be operative?

B. Able to explain the fundamental basis for important deformation mechanisms or processes. Examples:

  • Dislocation glide, cross-slip, dislocation climb, precipitation strengthening
  • molecular orientation
  • Nabarro-Herring creep
  • Plane strain fracture

C. Apply the mechanisms of deformation to component design or alloy design.

Relation of Course to Student Outcomes:

(MSE-1, ABET-1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex materials engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

Topics Covered: tensors and elasticity, fracture I, plasticity, dislocations, strengthening mechanisms, high temperature and rate dependent deformation, fracture II, fatigue.