Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LI Fracture, Fatigue and Degradation
School	Metallurgy and Materials
Department	Metallurgy & Materials
Module Code	04 31180
Module Lead	tbc
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Full Term
Pre-requisites	LC Design for Functional Applications 1 - (04 31175)
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-44 hours Guided independent study-156 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module introduces students to how components can fail by fracture (rapid crack growth), fatigue (slow crack growth) and corrosion (reaction with external chemicals), dependent on their microstructure and residual stress state, and methods to characterise and predict these. The module develops and extends the basic coverage of material strength from earlier modules, applying this to practical examples and case studies of engineering components and systems with a particular emphasis on high-performance applications in aerospace.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Analyse, distinguish and explain the common failure modes (including brittle and ductile fracture, fatigue, corrosion and degradation) of a range of engineering materials (including metals, ceramics, composites, polymers and glasses) [C1, R5]. Explain strategies to control these failure and degradation modes based on understanding their various mechanisms and causes [C1, R5]. Define principal stresses and strains and use Mohr’s circle; calculate and apply the Tresca and von Mises yield criteria in representative engineering components, drawing appropriate conclusions [C2, R5]. Explain the effects of residual stress on mechanical properties, including identifying the features of stress corrosion cracking and examples of specific susceptible materials [C1, R5]. Discuss appropriate testing methods allowing for different failure mechanisms and materials classes [C1, R5].
Assessment	31180-01 : Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Written Unseen (70%) 31180-02 : Coursework : Coursework (30%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment:2hr unseen written examination (50%), Continuous assessment (50%) Reassessment:Exam (100%)
Other
Reading List