Course detail

Degradation Processes and Service Life Prediction

FSI-9DPP Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester

The course is designed to familiarize students in detailwith the fundamental mechanisms of production and operation degradation of the properties of engineering materials, in particular steels and other metals – in less extend ceramics and plastics. The knowledge obtained will provide on one hand for a more accurate determination of the limit state and a more effective exploitation of the materials used and, on the other hand, for a qualified estimate of failure causes. Production degradation (metallurgy, purity, chemical and structural heterogeneity, and effects of welding as an example of the effect of the technological process itself). Operation degradation (corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, wear, radiation embrittlement, and structural stability). The nature of the degradation process is always made clear, together with methods of evaluating it and its effect on the properties of materials. Methods of analysing the causes of defects in machine parts, including practical examples. Students are made familiar with selected methods for predicting the service life of machine parts in accord with specialization of students.

Language of instruction

Czech

Entry knowledge

Pass the corse "Degradation and remanent life prediction" in magister study programe.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Examination of the level of knowledge and the ability to apply it, based on a written paper for the exam. Alternatively, it may be a colloquial examination.
At least two consultations during preparation for the exam.

Aims

The objective of the course is to make students familiar with problems of production and operation degradation on such a level that they are able to assess the effect of the technologies used as well as of exploitation conditions on the properties of the materials of component parts and structures, including a subsequent estimation of their remanent service life.
At the same time the student obtains detailed knowledge of degradation processes that directly or indirectly related to his dissertation.

The course is not designed for graduates of master's degree in "Materials Engineering"
The course will provide students with the relatively detailed information on production and operation degradation in engineering materials. The methods for estimating remanent service life will be introduced to students.
Substantial contribution will be study of selected, degradation mechanism, selection will be made in cooperation with the supervisor of the student.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme D-MAT-P: Materials Sciences, Doctoral, recommended course

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

20 hours, optionally

Syllabus

1. Introduction, experimental methods of degradation monitoring nad investigation, fractography, scanning electron microscopy.
2. Production degradation (metallurgy, purity, chemical and structural heterogeneity, and effects of welding as an example of the effect of the technological process itself).
3. Operation degradation (corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, wear, radiation embrittlement, and microstructural stability). The nature of the degradation process is always made clear together with methods of evaluating it and its effect on the properties of materials.
4. Methods of remanent life prediction/estimation. Methods of analysing the causes of defects in machine parts, including practical examples.
Overview and general approaches, in more detail the matter will be explained according to specialization of students.