Materials failure can lead to catastrophic accidents, including costly loss of equipment, or in extreme cases human casualties. Failure analysis experts combine knowledge of failure mechanisms (fatigue, corrosion, creep) and analytical skills necessary to decipher failure mechanisms and design fault-tolerant materials and systems. Failure analysis engineers are employed in major engineering companies in nearly all sectors (oil & gas, aerospace, defense, semiconductors, etc.), as well as in specialty service companies that are focused on failure analysis.
More broadly, materials characterization consists of detailed inspection of a material and its properties. This area focuses on specialized knowledge of analytical techniques (microscopy, spectroscopy, diffraction, and structural and functional properties measurements), as well as an understanding of how to interpret and work with the large data sets that can arise from these measurements.
Recommended MSEN Electives:
- MSEN 415 Defects in Solids
- MSEN 440 Materials Electrochemistry and Corrosion
- MSEN 420 Polymer Science
- MSEN 458 Fundamentals of Ceramics
- MSEN 489 Failure Analysis
Recommended Specialty Electives:
- STAT 211/212 Principles of Statistics I/II
Other Relevant Specialty Electives:
- SENG 310 Industrial Hygiene Engineering
- SENG 312 System Safety Engineering
- SENG 321 Industrial Safety Engineering
- SENG 430 Risk Analysis in Safety Engineering
- SENG 460 Quantitative Risk Analysis in Safety Engineering
- MEEN 455 Engineering with Plastics
Relevant Minors/Certificates:
- Statistics Minor
- Safety Engineering Certificate
- Polymer Specialty Certificate