research

We present a continuum formulation to obtain simple expressions demonstrating the effects of surface residual stress and surface elastic constants on extensional and torsional stiffnesses of isotropic circular nanorods. Unlike the case of rectangular nanorods, we show that the stiffnesses of circular nanorods also depend on surface residual stress components. This is attributed to non-zero surface curvature inherent in circular nanorods.

Recent advances in liquid crystal elastomer

Zhijian Wang, Shengqiang Cai

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering Program

UCSD

The compressive mechanical responses of silicon nanoparticles with respect to crystallographic orientations are investigated by atomistic simulations. Superelastic and abrupt hardening-stiffening behaviors are revealed in [110]-, [111]- and [112]-oriented nanoparticles. The obtained hardness values of these particles are in good agreement with the experimental results. In particular, [111]-oriented particle is extremely hard since its hardness (∼33.7 GPa) is almost three times greater than that of the bulk silicon (∼12 GPa).

Professor Huajian Gao of Brown University speaks at MIT Distinguished Seminar Series (March 2016).

It is a unique opportunity to enjoy the many important recent achievements of Huajian's group.

Mechanics as an Enabling tool in bioinspired materials and biological interactions of nanomaterials

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Not to be missed!

• Journal of Sound and Vibration

In this paper we highlight several interesting phenomena that may emerge from coupling simple elastic systems like 1d bars. While in compostes we usually focus on wave propagation normal to the stratification direction (composite layers are coupled in series), here we show that extreme attenuation at multiple frequencies may emerge in linear systems that are coupled transversaly. We also introduce a simple device that act as a chopper for mechanical signals.

http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16364-8