Plasticity and Fracture

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Through this research we seek a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials of scientific and engineering interest. The objective underlying the work is a complete characterization of the resistance of material to deformation and fracture. Research in this area is necessarily interdisciplinary with activities that span the spectrum from basic theory, through experiment and observation, to detailed modelling and simulation. Theoretical studies provide the framework for discussing phenomena and for postulating physical mechanisms of materials deformation and fracture as well as provide definitions of physical quantities that should be measured. Experimental studies, on the other hand, provide the means of identifying complex material phenomenology and provide quantitative information on the physical quantities identified in theoretical work. To complete the loop, analytical modelling and computer simulation provide the means to examine the validity of theoretical concepts and to draw conclusions about the behavior of materials that could not be inferred directly from experimental data. It is essential that each of these ingredients be included in a comprehensive research program if significant fundamental contributions are to be made. Major themes of this research include: (1) the effects of rate and temperature on inelastic deformation mechanisms and fracture behavior; (2) the establishment of quantitative links between microscopic microstructural mechanisms and macroscopic behavior; (3) exploration of the role of interfaces on the mechanisms of deformation and fracture; and (4) the study of unstable and localized deformation, especially as a direct precursor to failure.