Mechanics of single crystals of metals and semiconductors, for example crack propagation, are among the applications of modeling and simulation considered in the class. This figure shows a stress field near a rapidly moving crack at an interface between two elastically dissimilar materials (soft/stiff). The crack moves supersonically with respect to the soft material, as can be confirmed by considering the shock fronts. (Image by Prof. Markus Buehler.)

Course Features

Course Description

This course surveys the basic concepts of computer modeling in science and engineering using discrete particle systems and continuum fields. It covers techniques and software for statistical sampling, simulation, data analysis and visualization, and uses statistical, quantum chemical, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo, mesoscale and continuum methods to study fundamental physical phenomena encountered in the fields of computational physics, chemistry, mechanics, materials science, biology, and applied mathematics. Applications are drawn from a range of disciplines to build a broad-based understanding of complex structures and interactions in problems where simulation is on equal footing with theory and experiment. A term project allows development of individual interests. Students are mentored by a coordinated team of participating faculty from across the Institute.

Technical Requirements

Special software is required to use some of the files in this course: .cc, .m, .xls, .tar, .avi, and .zip.