research

Amit Acharya                       Michael Widom

To appear in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

Motivated by results of the topological theory of glasses accounting for geometric frustration,
we develop the simplest possible continuum mechanical model of defect dynamics in metallic
glasses that accounts for topological, energetic, and kinetic ideas. A geometrical description
of ingredients of the structure of metallic glasses using the concept of local order based on
Frank-Kasper phases and the notion of disclinations as topological defects in these structures is
proposed. This novel kinematics is incorporated in a continuum mechanical framework capable
of describing the interactions of disclinations and also of dislocations (interpreted as pairs of
opposite disclinations). The model is aimed towards the development of a microscopic understanding
of the plasticity of such materials. We discuss the expected predictive capabilities of
the model vis-a-vis some observed physical behaviors of metallic glasses.

Shuze Zhu* and Teng Li*, Strain-induced programmable half-metal and spin-gapless semiconductor in an edge-doped boron nitride nanoribbon, Physical Review B, 93, 115401 (2016)

Improtance of modeling fatigue damage propagation is substantial given the ubiquity of fatigue-induced component failures across industries. A review of fatigue crack growth models along with a detailed discussion of recent experimental findings (substantiating the model assumptions) are presented (please see the pdf attachment below)

Various outcomes of slip-coherent twin boundary depending on the stress state and slip geometry (during the growth of a microstructurally short crack)

The Cardiac Biomechanics Laboratory at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and San Francisco VA Medical Center is seeking a hard working, motivated post-doctoral fellow to participate in biomedical engineering research involving the ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (aTAA).  The post-doctoral fellow should be motivated to be on a career track to become an academic professor.  Our lab is NIH funded to investigate the biomechanics of aortic aneurysms and currently has 2 postdoctoral fellows, and are seeking a 3rd.&nbs

http://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design/call-for-papers/m…

With funding from the Haythornthwaite Foundation, the Executive Committee (EC) of the Applied Mechanics Division (AMD) of ASME is pleased to announce the establishment of the Haythornthwaite Research Initiation Grant Program, targeting university faculty engaged in research in theoretical and applied mechanics that are at the beginning of their academic careers. Applicants must hold a tenure‐track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor at a US university on October 1, 2016, and must not be more than 5 years beyond receipt of their doctoral degree at the time the award is made.