By Ying Li, Martin Kröger, Wing Kam Liu

Modeling and simulation of manufacturing of advanced composite material is a must in today's industry as the use of advance composites is increasing dramatically. The aim is to reduce the number of trial and error by development of a simulation tool to model and predict the manufacturing fundamental phenomena happening simultaneously in different scales. Poromechanics is a multidisciplinary and multiphysics concept which can be used to achieve this goal.

A 3D constitutive model is proposed and verified with experimental data. Tension-torsion coupling effect and tension-compression asymmetry effect is investigate for tube shape memory alloy.

In this paper, a macroscopic model in a thermodynamically-consistent framework for shape memory alloys is proposed.

       A soft ionic conductor can serve as an artificial nerve in an artificial muscle. A polyacrylamide hydrogel is synthesized containing a hygroscopic salt, lithium chloride. Two layers of the hydrogel are used as ionic conductors to sandwich a dielectric elastomer and fabricate a highly stretchable and transparent actuator. When the two layers of the hydrogels are subject to a voltage, the actuator reduces its thickness and expands. An areal strain of 134% is demonstrated.

Smart materials are designed to have a controlled response to external stimuli. Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are one of the most well known classes of mechanically active smart materials and have experienced an incredible amount of research attention over the last decade. They are able to recover programmed deformations when heated above a thermal transition; however, are generally considered a one-time event. Liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are another class of actively moving polymers; however, these materials can demonstrate reversible and repeatable shape memory without the need for “re-programming” after each actuation cycle.

Global Engineering and Materials, Inc. (GEM) is looking for candidates to fill a position of Research Engineer. Please refer to the attached file for detailed information. Thanks!

The Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (www.mavt.ethz.ch) at the ETH Zurich invites applications for a full professorship in Mechanics.