Blog posts

Dear colleagues, we have our recent paper, Flower Inspiration: Broad-angle Structural Color through Tunable Hierarchical Wrinkles in Thin Film Multilayers, published on Advanced Functional Materials. The cuticular nano-ridges on certain flower petals can selectively display broad-angle iridescence to enhance pollinators’ foraging efficiency. This paper develops a tunable broad-angle diffracting surface based on hierarchical wrinkling composites.

We have two funded PhD positions and we are looking for talented, self-motivated, and enthusiastic students with a BSc or MSc degree in mechanical or materials engineering. Students with strong background in crystal plasticity and computational mechanics are recommended to apply.

Prospective candidates will be assessed based on how well they meet the following criteria:

Title:

Enhancing the bonding of CFRP adhesive bonding through laser-based surface preperation sterategies.

Abstract:

Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) have been widely applied in the aerospace and automotive industries to achieve unprecedented weight reductions. However, major challenges need to be solved in order to exploit their full potential, especially in the design of full composite primary structure, making then a vital part of the mobility and energy revolution.

Dear Colleagues,

Our paper on elastic instabilities in soft fiber composites recently got published in International Journal of Engineering Science. In this paper, we explore how the stiffening behavior of composites phases influences the development of instabilities and associated buckling patterns. To do that, we use non-Gaussian hyperleastic  model to define the constitutive behavior of phases. 

A finite element formulation is presented for a direct approach to model elastoplastic deformation in slender bodies using the special Cosserat rod theory. The direct theory has additional plastic strain and hardening variables, which are functions of just the rod's arc-length, to account for plastic deformation of the rod. Furthermore, the theory assumes the existence of an effective yield function in terms of stress resultants, i.e., force and moment in the cross-section and cross-section averaged hardening parameters.

We are looking for candidates to join the Utah Waves and Architected Materials Group . We have fully funded openings for undergrads, MS and PhD. 

Applicants with track record / experience / expertise / strong passion in ANY ONE of the following technical fields are especially valued:

·        - Finite element simulations

·        - Vibrations and waves