MSE 531 Quantitative Analysis of Microstructure

Sem. 2 Class 3, Cr. 3 (offered in alternate years).  Prerequisite:  senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.

MSE 531 is an elective course.

Weekly Schedule:  Three 50-minute lectures.

A review will be presented of basic probability theory and statistical analysis, with particular emphasis on terms and definitions of a microstructure. The properties accessible to quantification, the basic stereological relationships and the mathematical foundations, and the microstructural tools needed to quantify the structure will be emphasized. The last one-third of the course will cover applications of quantitative metallography to problems in failure analysis, solidification, heat treatment, phase equilibria, and deformation behavior. Offered in alternate years.

Relation of Course to Program Outcomes
1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to problems in materials engineering.
5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, particularly in the context of materials selection and design.

Goals
To develop basic background on the stereological concepts for the description of the geometry of microstructures.
To employ methods and techniques for quantitative image analysis with selected applications.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student is expected to:

  • identify elements or features on 2-D sections or images appropriate for quantitative description of microstructures of 3-D objects.
  • measure volume fraction of individual phases employing techniques of areal analysis, lineal analysis, and systematic point-count.
  • determine surface to volume ratio of grain boundaries and interfaces of particles dispersed in a matrix.
  • determine average grain size by lineal intercept method and to evaluate sizes of particles with regular shapes of a sphere, disk or cylinder from areal and lineal analyses.
  • assess size distribution of spherical particles in a matrix from measurements and analyses of diameters, areas and chords on 2-D sections.
  • characterize oriented structures with systems of lines and surfaces for types and degrees of orientation.
  • employ computer-aided procedures for image acquisition and data analysis of microstructural features.

References
“Quantitative Microscopy”, ed. by R. T. DeHoff and F. N. Rhines, (McGraw-Hill, New York, NY 1968).
“Quantitative Image Analysis of Microstructures”, ed. by H. E. Exner and H. P. Hougardy, (DGM Informationsgesellschaft, Germany, 1988).
“Quantitative Stereology”, E.E. Underwood, (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1970).
Typed class notes.

Instructor
Mysore Dayananda

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component: MSE 531 is a materials-specific technical elective course.

Prepared by: Elliott Slamovich                                                            Date: April 25th, 2007