fiber network

The mechanical behavior of athermal random fiber networks embedding particulate inclusions is studied in this work. Composites in which the filler size is comparable with the mean segment length of the network are considered. Inclusions are randomly distributed in the network at various volume fractions, and cases in which fibers are rigidly bonded to fillers and in which no such bonding is imposed are studied separately. In the presence of inclusions, the small strain modulus increases, while the ability of the network to strain stiffen decreases relative to the unfilled network case.

Many materials of everyday use are fibrous and their strength is important in most applications. In this work we study the dependence of the strength of random fiber networks on structural parameters such as the network density, cross-link density, fiber tortuosity, and the strength of the inter-fiber cross-links. Athermal networks of cellular and fibrous type are considered. We conclude that the network strength scales linearly with the cross-link number density and with the cross-link strength for a broad range of network parameters, and for both types of networks considered.

We study the mechanical behavior of mycelium composites reinforced with biodegradable agro-waste particles. In the composite, the mycelium acts as a supportive matrix which binds reinforcing particles within its filamentous network structure. The compressive behavior of mycelium composites is investigated using an integrated experimental and computational approach. The experimental results indicate that the composite mimics the soft elastic response of pure mycelium at small strains and demonstrates marked stiffening at larger strains due to the densification of stiff particles.

Our Mechanics of Materials Group at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, in association with Materials innovation institute M2i, has two openings for talented PhD students in the field of multiscale mechanics of materials. They are part of a project on multiscale hygro-mechanics of paper. The industrial background of the project is in inkjet-printing. One opening is on experimental characterisation and the other on multiscale computational modelling.

For exceptionally suited young doctors we may consider changing the positions into PostDoc positions.