Sem 3 GUT Material Sci. (OLD)
(to be discontinued - valid up to batch 2017)
Applications @ GUT 30 ECTS credits
Advanced computational methods in material science
The Gdansk (GUT) partner's curriculum will focus on "Advanced Computational Methods in Material Science". As is well-known, modelling of materials at the atomic scale becomes more and more important in all fields of material science and engineering. At present, due to the increased power of computers, systems containing hundreds of million atoms can be simulated with particle methods involving empirical force-fields and thousands of atoms with advanced ab initio methods. Thus, investigations of molecular mechanisms of a great variety of technically important phenomena and their atomic-scale (and even sub-atomic) modelling are now possible. Since computer methods are generally much less costly and more convenient to perform than real experiments, the development of computer-aided material engineering has the potential for large economical impact. The graduates will be trained in advanced methods of computer modelling and design of inorganic and organic materials mainly at the molecular level, although macro-scale calculations will be also taught. The stress will be posed on methods (physical background, algorithms) and tools (programming, practical knowledge of commercial modelling/design programme packages, modern computer systems), thus the graduates will be well prepared to perform simulations of a very wide variety of materials and phenomena: properties of surface layers, bulk properties, friction and lubrication mechanisms, cracks, indentation, nanoelasticity and nanoplasticity in mechanical engineering, electro-optical and chemical properties of materials in materials science, just to invoke several representative examples. The general formation towards modelling methods at molecular scale, although focused on materials, will also enable our graduates students to switch easily to high-level simulations of biomolecular systems or other complex organic compounds (drug design, for example). Graduates will be able to find employment in any research institute, or industrial development/research units, where advanced molecular modelling finds application.
Below you can find information about the subjects for this semester.