research

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.

I am happy to share our paper entitled "Mechanisms of failure of aluminium-based Whipple shields under hypervelocity impact: insights from continuum simulations" published recently in Springer Nature journal Acta Mechanica.

Jie Ma, Xizhe Zhang, Daochen Yin, Yijie Cai, Zihang Shen, Zhi Sheng, Jiabao Bai, Shaoxing Qu, Shuze Zhu*, Zheng Jia*, Designing ultratough single-network hydrogels with centimeter-scale fractocohesive lengths via inelastic crack blunting, Advanced Materials, 2311795, 2024

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.

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.

I would like to share our following paper published recently in International Journal of Plasticity:

Modeling and simulation of dynamic compression of Bulk Metallic Glasses at room and elevated temperatures using split Hopkinson pressure bar setup

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.

The problem of the detachment of a flat indenter from a plane adhesive viscoelastic strip of thickness “b” is studied. For any given retraction speed, three different detachment regimes are found: (i) for very small “b” the detachment stress is constant and equal to the theoretical strength of the interface, (ii) for intermediate values of “b” the detachment stress decays approximately as b^{-1/2}1/2, (iii) for thick layers a constant detachment stress is obtained corresponding to case the punch is detaching from a halfplane.