Metallurgical Science for Failure Analysis and NDE Engineers

This text is intended for use in a one-semester, undergraduate course in metallurgy. The goal is to provide a clear and practical explanation of the scientific principles which govern metallurgy through the use of abundant illustrations. Beginning with a concise review of key concepts, the first section covers the atom's structure (the planetary model through cursory concepts of quantum mechanics), the arrangement of the periodic table of elements, and concludes with an explanation of atomic bonding. The second section examines the three primary metallic crystals, Miller/Miller-Bravais directions and indices, crystalline imperfections, and the important topic of phase diagrams. Mechanical metallurgy leads off the final section, followed by ferrous metallurgy, before ending with brief overviews of electrochemical corrosion and thermodynamics. And yet, while many formulas are presented, only a basic understanding of algebra is required; just as the more involved concepts of chemistry and thermodynamics have been kept to a minimum.

J .W. Bell did undergraduate studies in Applied Science (NDE) and graduate studies in Operations Research and System Safety Engineering. Currently he works in nondestructive evaluation as a metallurgical inspector and analyst.