Program Overview

Course Description

The Phenomenological & Atomistic course is offered by the Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering department. This course focuses on the interconnected processes that occur in materials at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Understanding irreversible thermodynamics, which explains how systems evolve over time toward equilibrium, is a key aspect of the course.

Course Content

The course covers several topics, including:

• Diffusion: the movement of atoms or molecules from high-concentration to low-concentration regions
• Nucleation: the production of small atom or molecule clusters that can expand into bigger structures
• Phase transformations: when materials change phases, including solidification, melting, and crystallization
• Fluid and heat transmission: how viscosity and thermal conductivity affect these processes
• Morphological instabilities: when a system becomes unstable and changes shape or structure
• Pattern creation and surface roughness evolution: the causes of these phenomena
• Gas-solid, liquid-solid, and solid-solid processes: how temperature, pressure, and surface area affect these reactions

Course Objective

The course aims to teach students about material kinetic and thermodynamic processes, providing a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

Course Period

The course period is from 26/08/24 onwards.