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A solid-shell model of hard-magnetic soft materials

Submitted by Fan Xu on

Hard-magnetic soft materials (HMSMs) consisting of an elastomer matrix filled with high remnant magnetic particles can exhibit flexible programmability and rapid shape changing under non-contact activation, showing promising potential applications in soft robotics, biomedical devices and flexible electronics. Precise predictions of large deformations of hard-magnetic soft materials would be a key for relevant applications.

Deep-learning model using a small dataset

Submitted by Mirkhalaf on

One the main challenges of developing data-driven models is the data-hungry nature of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). In our recent paper, we introduced a data augmentation approach to expand a small original dataset without conducting extra expensive high-fidelity simulations. We then used the original and augmented datasets for developing ANN models for non-linear path dependent composites. The obtained results showed the great impact of the data augmentation approach on the accuracy of the data-driven models.

Morphomechanics of growing curled petals and leaves

Submitted by Fan Xu on

Petals and leaves are usually curled and exhibit intriguing morphology evolution upon growth, which contributes to their important biological functions. To understand the underlying morphoelastic mechanism and to determine the crucial factors that govern the growth-induced instability patterning in curved petals and leaves, we develop an active thin shell model that can describe variable curvatures and spontaneous growth, within the framework of general differential geometry based on curvilinear coordinates and hyperelastic deformation theory.

Tunable Tail Swing of Nanomillipedes

Submitted by Fan Xu on

The physical properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are closely related to their morphology; meanwhile GNRs can easily slide on surfaces (e.g., superlubricity), which may largely affect the configuration and hence the properties. However, the morphological evolution of GNRs during sliding remain elusive. We explore the intriguing tail swing behavior of GNRs under various sliding configurations on Au substrate. Two distinct modes of tail swing emerge, characterized by regular and irregular swings, depending on the GNR width and initial position relative to the substrate.

Strain Rate Effects on Axial Tensile Behavior of Crystalline Polyethylene: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Submitted by Nuwan Dewapriya on

Our recent paper is accessible freely for 50 days from this link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1iaz87NHxQgzz

 


Key findings of this paper include a 7-fold strength increase in crystals with chain ends at higher strain rates, a shift in failure mode from chain end sliding to chain scission, and the influence of molecular weight on the failure mode.