Is the Bouligand architecture tougher than regular cross-ply laminates? Adiscrete element method study, Pro and Barthelat, Extreme Mechanics Letters, 2020

Novelty/impact/significance:

With capturing the main mechanisms, it is revealed that the Bouligand structure outperforms the cross-ply (0°/90°) for any crack orientation, while the former is more isotropic in-plane in stiffness and toughness.

Scientific question:

Is the Bouligand architecture tougher than regular cross-plies, given the same fibers and interfaces?

Dear Colleagues, 

We would like to invite you to submit an abstract for the ‘Shock & Blast’ session under Track 1: Dynamic Behavior of Materials. This symposium is part of the 2021 SEM Annual Conference & Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics (Virtual or Albuquerque, NM, USA, June 14-17, 2021).

Dear iMechanicians. I hope that the following paper is of interest to you. We develop the first phase field formulation for fracture (and fatigue) in Shape Memory Alloys. Its potential is demonstrated by solving a variety of paradigmatic 2D and 3D boundary value problems, from R-curves to fatigue cracking of a NiTi biomedical stent.

M. Simoes, E. Martínez-Pañeda. Phase field modelling of fracture and fatigue in Shape Memory Alloys. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 373 (2021) 113504

The project aims at multiscale non-linear simulalations of earthquakes. The candidates should have a solid mechanical background (elasticity + plasticity (preferable)) and an experience in the computational mechanics. The candidates with a knowledge of flow in porous media or/and with an experience with Comsol multiphysics are especially encouraged to apply.

An immediate postdoc position is open in Advanced Hierarchical Materials by Design Lab at the University of Alabama on multiscale modeling of materials and processes.

EML Webinar on 4 November 2020 will be given by  Zhigang Suo, Harvard University. Discussion leader: Jimmy Hsia, Nanyang Technological University

Title: Topological adhesion, wet and elastic

Time: 9:30 am Boston, 2 pm London, 3 pm Paris, 10:30 pm Beijing on 4 November 2020

Hydrogel Ionotronics: Principles, Materials and Applications

Canhui Yang

Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology

Email: yangch [at] sustech.edu.cn (yangch[at]sustech[dot]edu[dot]cn)

1.     Introduction

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: