Overview of Crystal/Defect Structure and Mechanical Properties and Behavior

The mechanical behavior of materials describes the response of materials to mechanical loads or deformation. The response can be understood in terms of the basic effects of mechanical loads on defects or atomic motion. A simple understanding of atomic and defect structure is, therefore, an essential prerequisite to the development of a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials. A brief introduction to the structure of materials will be presented in this chapter. The treatment is intended to serve as an introduction to those with a limited prior background in the principles of materials science. The better prepared reader may, therefore, choose to skim this chapter.