Title: Four Dimensional (4D) Materials Science: Probing Microstructural Evolution of Materials in Real-Time

Join Zoom: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/91754078808

Abstract: The field of materials science and engineering (MSE) is based on the fundamental principle that microstructure controls properties. Traditionally, the study of material structure has been limited by sectioning and post mortem observations. This approach is often inaccurate or inadequate for solving many fundamental problems. It is also often laborious and time-consuming. Advances in experimental methods, analytical techniques, and computational approaches, have now enabled the development of in situ techniques that allow us to probe the behavior of materials in real-time. The study of microstructures under an external stimulus (e.g., stress, temperature, environment) as a function of time is particularly exciting. Examples include an understanding of time-dependent deformation structures, phase transformations, compositional evolution, magnetic domains, etc.

X-ray synchrotron micro and nano-tomography provide a wonderful means of characterizing and mechanistic insight into microstructure evolution of materials non-destructively. A correlative microscopy approach and linkage with local mechanical properties is particularly intriguing. In this talk, I will provide an overview of research activities and facilities in my group, to address the critical link between microstructure and material behavior. The various modalities and challenges of imaging with x-rays will be described. The use of machine learning techniques to more efficiently handle large data sets, particularly for image segmentation will also be discussed. Several examples of the application of x-ray tomography and correlative microscopy will be provided as an introduction to the Purdue community to use these tools and as a means of collaborating to solve new problems.

Bio:  Nikhilesh Chawla is Ransburg Professor in Materials Engineering at Purdue University. He joined Purdue in 2020, after previously serving as Founding Director of the Center for 4D Materials Science and Fulton Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University. Prof. Chawla received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1997.  He was a postdoctoral fellow jointly at Ford Motor Company and the University of Michigan, and a senior development engineer at Hoeganaes Corporation. 

Prof. Chawla’s research is in the area Four-Dimensional (4D) materials science with a particular emphasis on the deformation behavior of advanced materials at bulk and small length scales. He has co-authored close to 260 refereed journal publications (Web of Science h-index of 49; Scopus h-index of 52; Google Scholar h-index of 57) and over 500 presentations in these areas.  He has over 12,000 citations to his work. He is the author of the textbook Metal Matrix Composites (co-authored with K.K. Chawla), published by Springer. The 2nd edition of this book was published in 2013.

Prof. Chawla is a fellow of ASM International and past member of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) Board of Directors. He is the recipient of the University of Michigan, Department of Materials Science and Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2018, Acta Materialia Silver Medal for 2017, and New Mexico Tech Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2016. In addition, he was named 2016 Structural Materials Division Distinguished Scientist/Engineering Award, as well as the 2016 Functional Materials Division Distinguished Scientist/Engineering Award, both from TMS; 2013 Brimacombe Medalist Award from TMS; 2011 Distinguished Lectureship given by Tsinghua University, China; 2004 Bradley Stoughton Award for Young Teachers, given by ASM International; and the 2006 TMS Young Leaders Tutorial Lecture. He’s also won the National Science Foundation Early Career Development Award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award.

Prof. Chawla is editor of Materials Science and Engineering A published by Elsevier (2019 Impact Factor of 4.7). He also serves on the Editorial Boards of Materials Characterization and Materials Chemistry and Physics. He has served or is serving on several external advisory boards, including that of Naval Research Laboratory, the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, and New Mexico Tech.