This course covers the theory of elastic and plastic deformation in materials, and the vital role played by crystal defects.

Part 1 (compulsory): Prof. Adrian Sutton
16 one-hour lectures and 4 rapid feedback sessions in Term 1

• Structural versus functional materials
• Defects in crystals
• The geometry of the elastic field
• The equilibrium condition for the stress field and body forces
• The misfitting sphere as a model of point defects
• The elastic Green's function
• Application of the elastic Green's function to point defects with non-spherical symmetry, and connection with atomistic simulation
• The nature of plastic deformation of crystals
• Application of the elastic Green's function to dislocations

Part 2 (optional advanced): Dr Daniel Balint
8 hours of classes in Term 2

• Complex variable analysis of plane isotropic linear elasticity
• The method of analytic continuation applied to complex variable analysis of plane isotropic linear elasticity
• The distributed dislocation technique for modelling cracks
• Plane discrete dislocation plasticity