Topic:  plasticity : state of the art, methods and some reflections on its future

Abstract:

plasticity encompasses a variety of fields ranging from unsophisticated technological applications to precision design. The history of mankind has shown that substantial progress could be achieved empirically — but slowly. By contrast, the last century has demonstrated that very little could be done to satisfy the demands of a rapidly changing society without paying tribute to clarifying the physical phenomena controlling plasticity. Characterizing materials microstructure, understanding its effects and tailoring populations of obstacles to meet specific performances has become a routine task for R&D groups.

This lecture will focus on selected, fundamental aspects of plasticity that are usually not taken care of in materials design : the individual and collective properties of dislocations. Evidence that reveals the role of these defects and methods to investigate this role will be critically discussed. In particular, emphasis will be put on transmission electron microscopy, some of its achievements and its main limitations. The light shed by computer on collective effects will be addressed and this will be complemented by some reflections on the future of plasticity.

Curriculum Vitae --  PATRICK VEYSSIERE