14. FER - Materials Science#
Contributors
This webpage includes materials contributed by Dr. Moon Won, subject-matter expert for this topic. Additional sources are cited where applicable; all other content was prepared by the JupyterBook’s author.
Tip
Materials Science is closely related to Mechanics of Materials, but it is not the same.
While mechanics focuses on how materials respond to forces (stress, strain, deformation, and failure), materials science focuses on why materials behave that way—examining their chemical composition, microstructure, and processing history.
It explores how atomic bonding, crystalline structure, and defects influence mechanical and chemical properties, and how these can be modified through heat treatment, alloying, compositing, or curing processes.
Typical topics include:
Testing and characterization of materials (tensile, hardness, fatigue, and microstructure analysis)
Phase diagrams and the effects of heat treatment on metals
Corrosion, fatigue, and environmental degradation mechanisms
The relationship between microstructure and macroscopic performance
The principal materials of engineering interest are concrete (both components and finished mixes), steel and other metals/alloys, wood, resins, and fibers—each chosen based on its performance, cost, and sustainability within the design context.