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Thermal Diode

Submitted by Akbar Afaghi on

Hi everyone,

We are looking for the practical solutions for building a thermal diode using nanocomposites. A thermal diode allows the heat flow from one end to the other, but it inhibits the flow in the opposite direction. There are some simulations and theoretical work in this regard. Does anyone know any experimental work related to this matter? Thanks.

Journal Club Theme of May 2007: Experimental Mechanics of Nanobuilding Blocks

Submitted by Xiaodong Li on

Welcome to the May 2007 issue. This issue focuses on experimental nanomechanics of nanobuilding blocks. The extremely small dimensions of nanobuilding blocks (for instance, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanowires) have imposed great challenges to many existing instruments, methodologies, and even theories.  In this issue, we will discuss – (1) experimental techniques and (2) size-effects. 

Super stretchy carbon nanotubes

Submitted by Jianyu Huang on

Huang et al., PRL 98, 185501 (2007)

Watch movies at: http://netserver.aip.org/cgi-bin/epaps?ID=E-PRLTAO-98-002719

We report exceptional ductile behavior in individual double-walled and triple-walled carbon nanotubes at temperatures above 2000 C, with tensile elongation of 190% and diameter reduction of 90%, during in situ tensile-loading experiments conducted inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope. Concurrent atomic-scale microstructure observations reveal that the superelongation is attributed to a high temperature creep deformation mechanism mediated by atom or vacancy diffusion, dislocation climb, and kink motion at high temperatures. The superelongation in double-walled and triple-walled carbon nanotubes, the creep deformation mechanism, and dislocation climb in carbon nanotubes are reported here for the first time.

If degrees were not a discriminator for hiring, would lying about degrees still be a serious offense?

Submitted by Zhigang Suo on

I'm saddened by the recent resignation of Marilee Jones, the dean of admissions at MIT. By all accounts she has been an excellent employee, but she lied about her degrees when she first applied for an entry-level job 28 years ago.

I do think that lying is wrong, and I can't blame the administration of MIT for taking actions. However, I'm uneasy about the general practice of employment.

NSF Proposal Writing Workshop

Submitted by Ken P. Chong on

Subject: NSF Proposal Writing Workshop ( August 22-23, 2007 - Alaska)

Sponsored by NSF, a Proposal Writing Workshop will be held on August 22-23, 2007, at University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The workshop mainly aims to provide future proposal submitters (in all disciplines funded by NSF) with knowledge and tools to write good proposals, proposal review experience, and it will enable interactions with NSF program directors and recent NSF awardees. The event is targeted at an EPSCoR state, Alaska. However, the workshop is open to participants from other states as space permits.

Adhesion in viscoelastic contacts

Submitted by MichelleLOyen on

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of seeing a mechanics seminar delivered "tag-team" by Ken Johnson and Jim Greenwood. (I know several people have thought I was a bit mad for jumping "across the pond" but there are really some amazing benefits of being part of the Cambridge Engineering faculty!)

Going beyond 2D Neumann-Mullins (or, what is popularly known as, solving the beer froth structure)

Submitted by Mogadalai Gururajan on

Introduction

The blogosphere is abuzz with the latest report of the generalisation of the von Neumann-Mullins grain growth relation to 3 (and N) dimensions by MacPherson and Srolovitz (As an interesting aside, almost all the reports say mathematical structure of beer foam structure resolved, or words to that effect --hence, I also decided to join the bandwagon on that one). I heard Prof. Srolovitz describe the work in a seminar nearly six months ago. Based on my notes of the talk, I would like the explain their work in this post. Curvature in the following refers to mean curvature (and not Gaussian).