Abstract of paper recently accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Physics:

It is generally believed that similar to soluble ligand-induced signal transduction, mechanotransduction initiates at the local force-membrane interface (e.g., at focal adhesions) by inducing local conformational changes or unfolding of membrane-bound proteins, followed by a cascade of diffusion-based or translocation-based signaling in the cytoplasm. However, all published reports, including past studies with the reporter type of construct extended here, were limited in timescale to address this fundamental issue.

Xin-Lin Gao and I had the pleasure of guest-editing a special  issue on "scale effects in mechanics" for the journal, Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids (editor: Professor David Steigmann , UC Berkeley).

The Computational Solid Mechanics group under the direction of Prof. Marisol Koslowski in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue has an opening for a postdoctoral position in the area of multiscale modeling as part of the project “Plasticity in ultrafine grained materials” funded by DOE. A successful candidate is expected to have a strong background in computational solid mechanics and programming experience. While experience in plasticity using dislocation dynamics or phase field methods is a plus, all outstanding candidates will be considered.

I have some problem in defining the material properties using UMAT. I want to simulate the cubic stress-strain traction-sepration law. Solution doesn't converge after max load is applied (i.e zero slope of stress-strain plot). I am using riks solver. I have written my stress -strain relationship as below in UMAT file. Please tell me how to converge the solution even after zero slope of stress-strain relationship. Can i make my load factor(lambda) negative in riks option.

A graduate student researcher is sought to work on a theoretical and computational aspect of multiscale/ multi-physics material modeling (with an emphasis on biological materials and structures). The project’s envisioned outcome is to a better understanding of the relationship between the small scale physics and structures and the overall macroscopic properties of a material. This research has application in the design of new, smart material, or in the development of treatment for injuries and disease of biological tissues.

Carbon nanotubes as strong fibers in CNT-composites are subjected to large deformations in radial direction. They provide strength as well as structural damping in the composite. Despite being strong in the axial direction, CNTs are rather soft in the radial direction.

Many researchers have already used micromechanical modeling techniques such as Mori-Tanaka (M-T), Self-consistent methods and dilute inclusion models depending on volume fraction and shape of the inclusions, etc., to predict the overall mechanical properties of CNT/polymer composites.  However, we know that at nano scales the phenomenological behavior of material is different in comparison with micro or macro scales. Although the effects of waviness, interactions, agglomeration, etc.