Transport Phenomena in Materials Engineering

Understanding how mass, heat, and momentum move through different states of matter is essential for anyone working in materials science, metallurgy, or manufacturing. Without these core principles, it is impossible to predict how metals solidify, how alloys diffuse, or how industrial furnaces transfer heat. This course provides a clear, step-by-step introduction to transport phenomena, making complex mathematical models accessible and practical. You will transition from grasping basic physical laws to confidently analyzing complex transport systems in materials processing. By studying written explanations, equations, and structured engineering problems, you will learn to set up governing equations and boundary conditions for real-world scenarios. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational mechanisms of fluid flow, heat conduction, and mass diffusion in materials. - Apply shell balances to derive velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. - Formulate and solve transport equations using appropriate boundary conditions. - Analyze solidification, casting, and heat treatment processes using transport principles. - Evaluate dimensionless numbers to scale and model industrial materials operations. - Explore modern computational approaches and numerical methods used to solve transport equations today. The course begins with essential definitions, dimensional analysis, and the physical properties of materials, before guiding you through fluid dynamics, thermal energy transport, and mass diffusion. This course is designed for beginners, undergraduate engineering students, and entry-level professionals looking for a solid theoretical foundation in materials processing, with no advanced prerequisites required. Start reading today to master the physical forces that shape modern materials engineering.