Fatigue and Fracture of Materials - 535.732

This course will introduce the theory and application of fracture mechanics. The perspectives of multiple disciplines including mechanics, materials, manufacturing, statistics, and nondestructive evaluation will be integrated to develop a holistic view of design and sustainment of fatigue-limited structures. The course will provide a solid foundation of classic approaches to solving fatigue and fracture problems while simultaneously discussing the underlying physical mechanisms that drive material behavior. These methods will be applied during the latter part of the course in a group project where you work with a team on a simulated failure investigation. You will use your knowledge of fracture mechanics and emerging software tools to develop a safety risk assessment for a simulated aviation mishap. Prerequisites: Undergraduate or introductory courses in materials and mechanics and the ability to write code in MATLAB or another language is highly recommended.