This graduate-level course explores the mechanical behavior of emerging metallic systems—including high-entropy alloys (HEAs), heterostructured materials, and other advanced alloys—through the lens of dislocation theory and microstructural design. Students will gain a theoretical foundation in dislocation mechanics and apply these principles to understand strengthening mechanisms, deformation behavior, and design strategies in cutting-edge metallic materials.

• Undergraduate-level knowledge of materials science and mechanical behavior of materials
• Basic understanding of crystallography and physical metallurgy

Student performance will be assessed based on the following components:
• Homework Assignments (Problem Sets and Short Essays) – 20%
Focused on key theoretical concepts and interpretation of experimental data.
• Midterm Report (Literature Review) – 20%
Students will prepare a detailed literature review on a selected topic related to HEAs, dislocation theory, or heterostructured materials.
• Class Presentation – 20%
Each student will present a recent research paper (published within the last 3 years) and lead a short discussion.
• Final Project (Research Proposal or Case Study) – 40%
Students will develop a proposal or an in-depth case study involving mechanical behavior analysis, supported by theoretical or simulation-based interpretation.

2. L. Romero-Resendiz, Heterostructured stainless steel: Properties, current trends, and future perspectives, Materials Science & Engineering R 150 (2022) 100691
3. Praveen Sathiyamoorthi; Hyoung Seop Kim, High-entropy alloys with heterogeneous microstructure: processing and mechanical properties, Progress in Materials Science, Volume 123, January 2022, 100709


Additional references include selected recent journal articles and reviews. Students are expected to actively read and critique current literature:
• Acta Materialia
• Scripta Materialia
• International Journal of Plasticity
• Materials Science and Engineering A
• Progress in Materials Science
• Nature Materials, Nature Communications, and Science Advances (for frontier research)

Week-by-Week Syllabus
Week Topic Key References / Reading
1-3 Introduction to Advanced Metallic Materials
Overview of HEAs, metastability, heterostructures Gao et al., HEA: Fundamentals and Applications (Ch.1)
4 Strengthening Mechanisms in Metals
Grain boundaries, solid solution, precipitates Meyers & Chawla (Ch.5–6), Murty et al. (Ch.4–5)
5 Solid Solution and Lattice Distortion in HEAs Gao et al. (Ch.4), Selected Acta Mater. papers
6 Stacking Fault Energy and Planar Slip Behavior in HEAs Selected journal articles, Discussion on SFE
7 Heterostructured Materials: Concepts and Microstructures Wu et al., Heterostructured Materials (Ch.1–2)
8 HDI Strengthening and Strain Gradient Effects Wu et al. (Ch.3–4), Selected IJPlasticity articles
9-11 Deformation Mechanisms in Dual-Phase and TRIP-Assisted HEAs Recent literature reviews and case studies
12 Modeling Approaches: From Dislocation Dynamics to Crystal Plasticity Introduction to CP-FEM
13 Design Principles for Next-Generation Alloys Integrated materials design, CALPHAD, ML intro
14 Student Presentations: Recent Research Topics Selected topics by students
15 Final Project Presentations and Discussions Comprehensive review & wrap-up

Lecture

Lecture