Dielectric rods have been employed in various electromechanical applications, including energy harvesters and sensors. This paper develops a general framework to model large deformations in dielectric rods, considering both direct and converse flexoelectric effects. Initially, we derive the governing differential equations for a three-dimensional dielectric continuum solid to model large deformations, incorporating converse flexoelectricity. Then, we derive the equilibrium equations for the flexoelectric strain-gradient special Cosserat rod.

We have a fully funded Ph.D. position available in the design and simulation of novel architected/meta materials, focusing on their nonlinear behavior under static and dynamic loading.

In unidirectional sliding of rubber contacts on smooth hard surface it has been found that contact shrinks largely in longitudinal directions, and generally much less in the transverse direction, and two explanations have been suggested to explain this: one is the effect of mixed mode fracture mechanics in the presence of adhesion (with mode II reducing adhesion and mode III less clear), and another uniquely based on finite strain effects even for a simple material model as neo-Hookean hyperelastic material.

A fully supported Ph.D. position is open immediately in the Advanced Manufacturing Research Group within the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), starting in Fall 2025. Our interdisciplinary research focuses on advancing additive manufacturing technologies for high-performance composite materials, with applications spanning aerospace, automotive, electronics, and biomedical industries.

Two PhD/PostDoc positions open for Fall 2025 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on: 

(1) Multiphysics modeling of biological systems and/or neuronal mechanics (NSF and ONR funded)

(2) Microstructure modeling in metal Additive Manufacturing (ONR funded).

Both positions focus on extensive computational mechanics and multiphysics modeling, and involve modeling phenomena across length scales. Prospective students with interest in numerical modeling, solid mechanics, multiphysics and/or biomechanics may email CV's to shiva dot rudraraju at wisc dot edu

The present EFM paper selected for discussion applies artificial intelligence (AI) to fatigue crack growth. The subject is on the outskirts of my competence. To say the least, I am on thin ice when it comes to AI, machine learning, neural networks and similar. Still, I get the feeling that the selected paper describes an interesting step forward. I am sure that it will, sooner or later, be a reliable tool for predicting closing and opening loads at fatigue crack growth. 

There are currently two openings in my group, the Mechanics of Materials Lab, at the University of Oxford. One is a PhD student post on hydrogen embrittlement testing, associated with my ERC Starting Grant project ResistHfracture, see details here.

Dear Colleague,

If you have an account on Bluesky posting about mechanics and academic life, please reach out to me 

https://bsky.app/profile/oliveroreilly.bsky.social

If you are already there, please reach out. I hope in time, there will be a community of mechanicans on Bluesky sharing posts and thoughts about their academic lives and research.

Best wishes,

Oliver