14:635:212 Physics of Materials (syllabus)
This course focuses on the physics of materials necessary for an understanding of material properties and material processing. Specifically, we focus on: mechanical behaviors (viscoelasticity, plasticity), chemical behaviors (reaction kinetics, mass transport), and thermal behaviors (thermal properties, heat transfer). We do not cover optical, magnetic, or electrical behaviors (these are covered in 14:635:316 Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials). The high-level goals of the course are to develop physical models which provide: understanding of the physical origin of material behaviors, scaling behaviors of different properties (e.g., temperature dependence), and techniques for designing materials and materials production processes.
16:635:513 Mechanical Behavior of Materials (syllabus)
This course is focused on the mechanical behaviors of materials, the physics and materials science that underlies these behaviors, and engineering approaches for prediction of mechanical failure of materials. The first half of the class elaborates the various defects and deformation mechanisms which contribute to mechanical behaviors. The second half of the class focuses on the major mechanical behaviors themselves—including yield, creep, fracture, and fatigue—along with relevant mechanical properties and failure criteria. For each topic, experimental observations, commonly employed physical models, and mechanistic theories are be discussed. A common theme is the relationship between microstructure, deformation processes, and mechanical properties.