research

Another couple of interesting articles to share. Using some "mechanics" principles, researchers have reasoned that 100,000 years ago, kangaroos were too heavy to hop.

A while ago, a different group of researchers published the results of computer modelling (using genetic algorithms) that showed dinosaurs might have hopped and skipped as forms of locomotion! (But only if particularly happy?)

These articles might be good to share with undergraduate engineers for discussion in tutorials. There are issues to discuss with assumptions in both cases. 

I thought the following article might be of interest to some on this site.

This recent article present an improved methodology to calculate in-situ Young's moduli of the constitutive layers in a multilayer systems (e.g. thin films, SOFCs, TBCs etc.)

Pandey, A., Shyam, A., Liu, Z., & Goettler, R. (2014). In-situ Young’s Moduli of the Constitutive Layers in a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. Journal of Power Sources.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378775314015341 

Highlights

This recent article presents an improved methodology to calculate in-situ Young's moduli of the constitutive layers in a multilayer systems (e.g. thin films, SOFCs, TBCs etc.)

Amit Pandey, Amit Shyam, Zhien Liu, Richard Goettler, In-situ Young's moduli of the constitutive layers in a solid oxide fuel cell, Journal of Power Sources, Volume 273, 1 January 2015, Pages 522-529

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378775314015341 

Experiment.com is a crowdfunding site for research (a Kickstarter for science!).

Open to all, a target amount for a project is set, and funds are raised through small individual donations. The success is based on how many people like your idea. It's kind of a fun/alternative idea to traditional grant sources! If you have an interesting idea, I recommend it.