Kip O. Findley

My primary interests in materials engineering are mechanical metallurgy and developing microstructure-mechanical property relationships in advanced metal alloys. There are several engineering models that can accurately estimate mechanical behavior such as stress-strain, fatigue crack initiation and growth rates, fracture toughness, and creep at high temperatures; however, many of those models are fitted mathematical relationships using empirically determined constants that may not fully represent the underlying physical mechanisms governing the specific mechanical property. My research interests involve linking mechanical behavior of metallic materials to microstructural features at a variety of length scales ranging from sub-microscopic to microscopic levels and using this understanding to develop physically-based models. This methodology is applied to Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center projects in the bar, plate, and sheet product areas. Through my research and teaching activities, I seek to educate undergraduate and graduate students in core physical metallurgy concepts and maintain the strong relationships between the ASPPRC and the industrial sponsors as well as forge new collaborations as opportunities present themselves.

Education

• B.S. Colorado School of Mines
• Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology

Research Area

• Mechanical metallurgy
• Fatigue and fracture of advanced metal alloys
• Quantitative microstructural characterization

Teaching Focus

I teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses including:

• MT445/505: Mechanical Behavior of Materials
• MT553: Theory of Dislocations and Strengthening Mechanisms
• MT560: Failure Analysis