MSE 556 Fracture of Materials

Sem. 1. Class 3, cr. 3. (offered in alternate years). Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.

MSE 556 is an elective course.

Weekly Schedule: Three 50-minute lectures.

The failure and fracture of materials under applied stress are the focal points of this course, with particular emphasis on the material characteristics that influence fracture. The initial subjects covered in this course will include introductions to linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and elastic plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM). Subsequently, the strength and toughness of metals, ceramics, and polymers will be explored with regard to processing property relationships and microstructure. Special topics will include racture mechanism maps, Weibull statistics, toughening mechanisms, and failure analysis. This course is distinct from a course on fracture mechanics in that the fundamental materials aspects of fracture are of paramount importance. 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.
7. an ability to exhibit effective oral and written communication skills.

Goals
To develop understanding of the terminology and methodology of fracture mechanics.
To develop understanding of how deformation mechanics in materials affect fracture.
To introduce strategies for assessing the source of failures from fracture.

Course Objectives
The students will:

1.  Recognize and understand the significance of

  • stress concentration
  • fracture mode (I, II, III)
  • process or plastic zone
  • plane strain fracture toughness, KIC
  • plane stress fracture
  • crack tip opening displacement, CTOD
  • J-Integral

2.  Recognize how the shear and dilatant character of a deformation process plays in role in fracture resistance.
3.  Recognize how specimen geometry and size influences fracture toughness and strength compared to applications.
4.  Be conversant in at least one research area related to fracture and failure.
5.  Be able to critique experimental fracture data relative to models or mechanisms reported for those materials.
6.  Understand how post-mortom analysis can be used to assess failed components.

Instructor(s)

 

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component: MSE 556 is a materials-specific technical elective course.

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