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Dr. Tongguang (Tony) Zhai

Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering

D.Phil. (Ph.D.) from University of Oxford

B.Sc. from University of Science and Technology Beijing

Research interests:

Micro- and macro-texture effects on fatigue damage, 3-D model for short fatigue crack growth, Texture and its evolution during thermo-mechanical processing, Surface enhancement welding, Sm-Co permanent magnets, Nano-phase permanent magnets, etc.

Current Research Projects

1. Study of residual stresses and micro-texture effects on the fatigue properties of Ti alloys,

Sponsor: Department of Defence

2. Effects of surface enhancement on the fatigue properties of Ti alloys,

Sponsor: Kentucky Science and Technology

3. Study of Sm-Co permanent magnets

Sponsor: Kentucky Science and Technology, and Semicon Associates

4. Effects of micro- and macro-texture on the fatigue properties of AA 2026 and 2099 Al alloys

Sponsor: Alcoa

5. Refractory metal welding (Mo-Re alloy)

Sponsor: Semicon Associates

6. Development of 2xxx series continuous cast Al alloys, texture evolution and formability prediction

Sponsor: Department of Defence

Failure analysis: (Failure Analysis, Forensic Engineering, Expert Witness, Testimony)

1. Surgical rod (stainless steel), deposition (3/12/2003)

2. Refilling stainless steel hose, outside-court settlement (2/13/2004)

3. Fan shafts (re-designed)

4. Fan rods (re-designed)

5. Fan hub

6. a brass water tap

7. An engine fastening rod in a racing car

8. A tank shaft

9. Telescope ladder

Contact me if you have a question about failure analysis

Research Opportunities

Job openings

Graduate scholarships

For high school teachers

Collaboration with Industry

We collaborate with industries to help to solve problems in materials characterization, processing, design, and applications,

Research capability

Quantitative metallography (grain size/distribution, second phase particles)

Crystallographic texture and phase analysis (X-ray diffraction)

Courses taught

Metal and Alloys (with labs)

Failure Analysis and Prevention

Deformation Processing (with labs)

Advanced Physical Metallurgy

Advanced Thermodynamics

Materials Technology (Labs)

Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering II

New course under development

Crystallographic Texture and Properties

This course is under development. Please click on it for more information about the course. Please contact me if you are interested in taking such a course. Some course materials will be made available.

Ask a question about this course?