In a lithium-ion battery, both electrodes are atomic frameworks that host mobile lithium ions. When the battery is being charged or discharged, lithium ions diffuse from one electrode to the other. Such an insertion reaction deforms the electrodes, and may cause the electrodes to crack. This paper uses fracture mechanics to determine the critical conditions to avert cracking. The method is applied to cracks induced by the mismatch between phases in crystalline particles of LiFePO4

Programs from Programming the Finite Element Method by Ian M. Smith and D. V. Griffiths are downloadable from: www.mines.edu/~vgriffit/4th_ed/Software This title demonstrates how to develop computer programmes which solve specific engineering problems using the finite element method. It enables students, scientists and engineers to assemble their own computer programmes to produce numerical results to solve these problems.

Please allow me to note that I have recently published in Philosophical Magazine a paper that presents a general approach to Gibbsian surface thermodynamics that includes a treatment of solid surfaces.  It can be accessed through the following link: 

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a792987191

Recently published, this special issue of the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, dedicated to ‘Nanoindentation of Biological Materials' provides a snapshot of the novel uses on nanoindentation technology that is now readily available to researchers and expands the scope of existing techniques to optimize methods for biological tissues and related biomaterials.

Access the issue online:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/17516161 (ScienceDirect subscribers)

June 18 Columbus, OH

Guest Speaker: Dan Turk,Honda R&D Americas\http://www.simulia.com/events/hpc/columbus_hpc_6-18.html



June 24 Minneapolis; MN

Guest Speaker; Paul Radavic, Design Analysis Manager, Mercury Marine

Hi all.

I am modeling a problem of a Double Cantilever Beam in Ansys 11.0,

using Exponential and Bi-linear Cohesive Laws.

For the Bi-Linear law, Ansys needs to introduce 6 constants, like the Critical Fracture Energy Gc, the normal stress σ...

The fifth constant, η, is the artificial damping coefficient, introduced to improve the convergence to solution.

Can you help me to understand the nature of this parameter?

Which values of this damping coefficient must be considered for a good modeling of the problem?

Two new papers grabbed my attention on my long unread list of journal tables of contents in Google Reader. 

1) The first was

PNAS 106, 10103 (2009), doi:10.1073/pnas.0905193106, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPJBalMZ824&feature=channel_page,    http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=11108.php

A one-year post-doc is available in conjunction with

1) Prof. Asenov, University of Glasgow

2) Dr. Bordas, University of Glasgow/Cardiff

 to study the behaviour of nano-CMOS semi-conductors.

Please write to stephane dot bordas at g ma i l dot com 

 for details with your:

1) CV

2) Three references

3) a statement of why you are qualified and interested in this position

 You should

1) have a strong background in finite element methods