There are plenty of websites or repositories for 3D models. In practice I’ve often found myself searching through a lot of them when looking for a particular model. In my opinion, there isn’t a one stop shop solution. Instead, there are several really good websites that are worth to check out. In this post I’ll present my favorite 10 3D model databases divided into these four categories:

• CAD models: If you are a mechanical engineer and are looking for models to re-use in your own design, then these repositories are for you.

A perspective paper on flexoelectricity by Professor Pradeep Sharma (University of Houston) is published in the March (2016) issue of the Journal of Applied Mechanics.  A perspective paper describes an important, emerging field in mechanics.  The first perspective paper, by Professor Huajian Gao (Brown University), has been downloaded more than 8000 times since its publication.  This new paper by Professor Sharma is the 3rd perspective paper published in JAM.  The paper is attached.

Announcing extension of the deadline of application for the two positions that I posted here last week. The deadline is now extended by one week to 21st February 2016.

I'm posting a few experimental studies we have conducted on the dynamic behavior of hierarchical fibrous materials, using vertically aligned carbon nanotubes as a model material. I hope these will be useful to those who are interested in buckle-instabilities, multiscale behavior, and energy absorption mechanisms.

An overview:

As part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Journal of Fracture, two special volumes were published in 2015. All articles of the 2^nd 50^th anniversary issue published in Nov/Dec 2015 are now freely accessible at the journal site until the 7^th of April. These articles (and the ones published in the 1^st 50^th anniversary issue published in Jan/Feb 2015) provide reviews and perspectives on many aspects of fracture. You are welcome to browse thorough these articles and provide feedback on this blog!

Hello everyone,

I was looking for a Matlab source code for implementing XFEM to solve a dynamic problem (specifically dynamic crack propagation problem). I found several source codes which only solve static problems (they don't calculate mass matrix and they don't do the time integration). 

My research goal is to remove the oscillations from stress intensity factors  for a dynmic crack propagation problem. I will really appreciate any kind of help/suggestions.

With respectfully

Bhuiyan, A B M Abdul Ali

Starting April 2016, we will have openings for two post-doctoral fellow positions in experimental and computational mechanics of advanced polymers. These positions will support a new research program between Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and National University of Singapore (NUS) funded by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The project focuses on synthesizing, characterizing, modeling, and simulating the thermo-mechanical behavior of polymers with covalent adaptable networks (CANs), e.g. vitrimers.