Lecture, four hours; outside study, eight hours. Requisite: course M256A. Analytical and computational modeling methods to describe mechanics of materials at scales ranging from atomistic through microstructure or transitional and up to continuum. Discussion of atomistic simulation methods (e.g., molecular dynamics, Langevin dynamics, and kinetic Monte Carlo) and their applications at nanoscale. Developments and applications of dislocation dynamics and statistical mechanics methods in areas of nanostructure and microstructure self-organization, heterogeneous plastic deformation, material instabilities, and failure phenomena. Presentation of technical applications of these emerging modeling techniques to surfaces and interfaces, grain boundaries, dislocations and defects, surface growth, quantum dots, nanotubes, nanoclusters, thin films (e.g., optical thermal barrier coatings and ultrastrong nanolayer materials), nano-identification, smart (active) materials, nanobending and microbending, and torsion. Letter grading.
