This course provides students with an understanding of the fundamental concepts that govern the mechanical properties of metals and alloys under stress. The course curriculum provides students with a revision of crystallography and examines the behaviour of crystalline defects, especially different types of dislocations including slip, twinning, dislocation multiplication, cross slip, climb, dislocation interactions, and deformation of single and polycrystals. The students go through lecture sessions on stress-strain curves of metal crystals, enabling students to grasp the role of crystal structure on mechanical properties of metals and their alloys.
Through interactive online tutorials, students will have the opportunity to practice applying their theoretical knowledge, solve problems, deepen their comprehension of the subject matter and receive feedback on their learning. The course extensively covers dislocation theory and theories of the yield point and flow stress. Advanced theories on strengthening of metals, including work-hardening, solid solution strengthening, precipitation hardening and grain boundary effects are covered in detail in the lectures. The course also covers temperature dependence of flow stress, as well as the deformation and creep of materials at high-temperature. The course introduces the concept of Superalloys and composite materials to the students and the theories governing their mechanical behaviour. By the end of the course, students emerge with a profound appreciation of how dislocation theory intertwines with strengthening mechanisms to dictate and allow control over the mechanical properties of materials. This knowledge equips them to analyse and design materials with improved mechanical performance for real-world applications in industries ranging from aerospace to advanced manufacturing.
