The curriculum concentrates on the comprehensive study of materials properties and failure processes from the point of view of physics and physical metallurgy. Students should develop capability to apply their knowledge in inventive manner to new technologies and materials, such as plasma spraying, special methods of thermo-mechanical and thermo-chemical treatment, etc. Special attention is paid to the degradation processes and to the synergetic effects of various materials properties on material failure. The subjects of study are metallic and non-metallic materials, e.g., structural ceramics, polymers, amorphous and nanocrystalline materials and intermetallics.
The Ph.D. programme requires proficiency in mathematics and physics at the MSc. degree level obtained from Faculty of Science or Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

1. Cyclic plasticity and dislocation arrangement of advanced multiphase materials for high-temperature applications

   The aim of the theme is to obtain new knowledge on the mechanisms of cyclic plastic strain and fatigue lives in advanced -based TiAl intermetallic alloys possibly nickel based superalloys. Primary interest lies in a complex evaluation of internal and effective stress according to the statistical theory of hysteresis loop, dislocation arrangements and surface relief observations of cyclically strained TiAl alloys with different structures and superalloys at room and elevated temperatures. The obtained results will be contribute to the understanding of mechanisms of cyclic plasticity and fatigue damage at elevated temperatures of modern materials which is considerable for the assessment of fatigue life of engineering components as gas turbines and jet engines.

   Tutor: Petrenec Martin, Ing., Ph.D.

2. Structural and deformations characteristics of Hadfield steel from point of this steel in railway transport

   The subject of the work is the investigation of structure and deformation characteristics of Hadfield steel from the point of application in railway transport. The main goal of this work is an establishment of optimal structural and deformation parameters for high exceeding stressed switches (frogs) of rails. This part of the rail top is an extremely stressed by combination of compression and bending stress. It is necessary to estimate the strength properties in static and dynamic state with microstructure analysis. First of all, the particular analyses of present state of the rail top and also the method of its control will be elaborated.

   Tutor: Stránský Karel, prof. Ing., DrSc.