Mechanistic Aspects of Fatigue and Fracture in Brittle Solids: Ceramics, Biomaterials and MEMS

Presented by:Dr. Robert O. RitchieMaterials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of BerkeleyAbstract:Whereas fatigue is generally considered as a major mechanism of failure in metallic and polymeric components, brittle materials, such as ceramics and silicon, are also susceptible to premature failure under cyclic loads, although the micro-mechanisms of fatigue damage are quite distinct to those encountered in ductile materials. This presentation focuses on the failure of such materials and specifically addresses the fatigue of "small-volume' structures for MEMS and fatigue-crack propagation in structural ceramics and elevated temperature. The relevance of such behavior to the failure of biological materials, such as teeth and bone, is described with particular emphasis to how these mineralized tissues degrade with age in terms of accumulated microstructural damage.Refreshments will be served at 2:30pmAll first-year MASC students are required to attend.

Location: Vivian Hall of Engineering (VHE) - 217

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: YUN TAO