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.

Dear Colleagues, 

We are currently organizing a Symposium on Geomaterials: Poromechanics and Failure, for the upcoming EMI International Conference  "Mechanics for Civil Engineers Against Natural Hazards" in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, from January 7th to 9th, 2015. 

We would like to invite submission for abstracts on modeling, characterization, and experimental studies on geomaterials for disaster prevention (landslides, earthquake) and for problems related to new energy applications (e.g. fracking, induced seismic events). 

Here is a description of the award and past winners.

Dear colleagues,

I would like to bring to your attention the advanced course on Modeling of localized inelastic deformation that will be taught by Milan Jirasek in Prague, Czech Republic on 15-19 September 2014. More detailed information on the course is posted at http://mech.fsv.cvut.cz/~milan/course2014.html. We are looking forward to seeing you in Prague!

We have EPSRC funding for a 39 month project modelling seabed ploughing (for cable and pipeline installation) starting in October 2014. We are recruiting two postdocs one in computational geomechanics (based at Durham, details here, closing August 4th) and another in experimental geomechanics (based at Dundee, details here).