Aerospace Materials

This course deals with the understanding of material properties and performance and how these are connected to basic structural behaviour. This includes learning the reasons behind certain material properties and how to change some of them. Furthermore, students will learn concepts as stresses and strain in tensile, shear or bending and how to apply these in basic structural elements. Thermal properties and their origin will also be addressed. As durability of aerospace structures is crucial, also the corrosion resistance and other degradation considerations will be discussed. Finally, the link between material properties and material selection for design considering the environmental impact of materials production and use is made.

The course will cover the following aspects in an aerospace materials context:

-Material-related concepts such as elastic modulus, stiffness, plasticity, yield, ductility, strength, toughness, hardening, Tg, Tm, thermoset, thermoplastic, elastomer, electrochemical potential, electrical/thermal conductivity

-Microstructure-dependent and microstructure-independent properties

-Material properties and their relation to material composition and microstructure

-Development and use of material indices for material selection in a given design

-Stiffness-limited design

-Strength-limited design

-Fracture-limited design

-Fatigue-limited design

-Materials behavior at high temperatures

-Materials degradation (corrosion, oxidation)

-Environmental considerations of the impact of material choice and use (circular economy)

-Strategic thinking to select materials for a target design