Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yue Liu, Liang Fang
Summary: This study aims to enhance the programability of multi-shape memory micro-objects using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to achieve sequential shape reconfiguration or actuation. Microcuboids were compressed to generate microbowls at different temperatures, and sequential full recovery and actuations were achieved by varying the programming temperatures and procedure sequence.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Murilo Sartorato
Summary: The study proposes a computational methodology for obtaining the homogenized effective elastic properties of unidirectional fibrous composite materials. The methodology involves imposing periodic boundary conditions on non-uniform polygonal unit cells using the generalized finite-element method and penalization techniques. Different families of enrichment functions are used to account for the influence of internal fibers on stress and strain fields.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART L-JOURNAL OF MATERIALS-DESIGN AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
H. Luo, Z. Hooshmand-Ahoor, K. Danas, J. Diani
Summary: In this study, the nonlinear behavior of a soft matrix with a high volume fraction (up to 55%) of monodisperse spherical inclusions (rigid particles or voids) is numerically investigated using finite element simulations and analytical approaches. A successive remeshing and solution mapping technique is used to address the issue of mesh distortion at large strains, allowing for large macroscopic deformations. A general algorithm is proposed and implemented to remesh a finitely strained domain with randomly distributed inclusions of arbitrary shape. The simulation results show that the stress-stretch uniaxial tension response of a neo-Hookean elastic matrix filled with rigid particles can be well approximated by a neo-Hookean material with an effective shear modulus that depends on the volume fraction of the inclusions. The study also demonstrates that sixty four monodisperse spheres provide accurate results for large deformations while maintaining a reasonable CPU-time. The finite element data serve as a tool for assessing analytical homogenization models and filling the gap for large volume fractions of inclusions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MECHANICS A-SOLIDS
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Guoqiang Luo, Yuxuan Zhu, Ruizhi Zhang, Peng Cao, Qiwen Liu, Jian Zhang, Yi Sun, Huan Yuan, Wei Guo, Qiang Shen, Lianmeng Zhang
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the research progress on mechanical properties characterization and modeling of cellular media materials. It emphasizes the importance of constitutive relationships and microstructure models in studying mechanical properties and optimizing structural design. Future research directions and key issues in this area are also discussed.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Abdessamad Belhaouzi, Souad Zyade, Youssef Halimi, Tarfaoui Mostapha, Marwane Rouway, Mohamed Tahiri
Summary: The study aims to improve the properties of building materials by adding nanoparticles for enhanced energy efficiency. Both numerical and analytical modeling methods are offered to analyze the thermal conductivity and mechanical property of composite materials. The results show that the addition of nanoparticles improves the thermomechanical behavior of building materials and has potential applications in various fields.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
D. Zeka, A. Catapano, P. M. Mariano, M. Montemurro, R. Poupart, O. Mondain-Monval, J. Delcroix, P. Rublon
Summary: We homogenize the mechanical properties of a two-phase polymer composite and apply it to wave control as a local resonant insulator. By considering the homogenized energy of the spherical inclusions and coupling them with the matrix using the second-order tangent method, we compare our results with experimental data through direct finite element simulations.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chiheb Naili, Issam Doghri
Summary: A predictive micromechanical approach is proposed for porous materials with an elastic-plastic matrix phase. The method determines the volume fractions using a maximum packing argument and computes the effective properties of single hollow solids using an energy-based approach. For reinforced porous materials, a two-level method is adopted. The predictions have been verified against reference full-field FE results and show good agreement.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Vetle Espeseth, David Morin, Jonas Faleskog, Tore Borvik, Odd Sture Hopperstad
Summary: This study investigates the effects of dispersoids on the ductile fracture process in aluminium alloys, finding that the size of the dispersoids can impact the growth and coalescence of voids, but not the growth of the primary void.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas S. Lumpe, Tino Stankovic
Summary: The study systematically explores crystallographic network topologies and provides a comprehensive catalog of unit cells, revealing the relationship between crystallographic symmetries and mechanical properties of structures. By interpreting molecular crystal networks as cellular structures, new structures with extremal properties have been identified, while also shedding light on the characteristics of known structures such as the octet-truss or the Kelvin cell.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
P. Gupta, P. Gudmundson
Summary: In this paper, a novel homogenization method is presented to reduce the number of finite elements required for simulating stresses in batteries. The method allows for non-linear elastic behavior and elastic-plastic behavior, and facilitates studying the interaction between batteries and surrounding structures.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kamalendu Ghosh, Oscar Lopez-Pamies
Summary: Recent experimental and theoretical results have identified elastomers filled with liquid inclusions as a promising new type of material with unprecedented properties. The first objective of this paper is to formulate the homogenization problem that describes the mechanical behavior of such filled elastomers under finite deformations. The focus is on the non dissipative case when the elastomer is a hyperelastic solid, the liquid inclusions are hyperelastic fluids, and the interfaces separating them have their own hyperelastic behavior. The second objective is to implement a numerical scheme to generate solutions for a specific type of filled elastomers, and propose a simple approximation for the effective stored-energy function.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICS AND PHYSICS OF SOLIDS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wenlong Tian, Xujiang Chao, M. W. Fu, Lehua Qi, Luyan Ju
Summary: This paper proposes a new algorithm for predicting the coefficients of thermal expansion of different composite systems, which guarantees stress and strain continuities on the representative volume elements for certain composites, while satisfying the micro-macro energy balance and zero macro-stress constraint. The proposed algorithm is validated to accurately predict the CTEs of composites through comparison with experimental tests and other numerical methods.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
J. A. Rivera-Santana, U. Figueroa-Lopez, A. Guevara-Morales
Summary: This study develops a numerical-computational algorithm that can predict engineering constants and toughness enhancement when adding nanoclay to a carbon/epoxy material system. The algorithm uses the intersection method to find critical debonding and shear banding radii, providing corresponding toughness enhancements as output. Input data, including homogenized constants, energy release rates, stress, and displacement fields at the nanoscale, are obtained via finite element method-based unit cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOLIDS AND STRUCTURES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Antonios A. Katsamakas, Vassilis K. Papanikolaou, Georgia E. Thermou, Konstantinos Katakalos
Summary: This paper presents an investigation of Reinforced Concrete (R/C) short columns strengthened with Steel Reinforced Grout (SRG) jackets. Experimental and numerical results both demonstrate that the addition of SRG jackets significantly enhances the strength and deformation capacity of the specimens, and there is a satisfying correlation between the two sets of results.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Ajinkya Gote, Andreas Fischer, Chuanzeng Zhang, Bernhard Eidel
Summary: The study focuses on reducing computational complexity in numerical homogenization analyses of 3D mesostructures, by systematically adjusting specimen size, resolution, and discretization parameters. By exploring the SRD parameter space, the study aims to find a balance between accuracy and efficiency in analyzing various heterogeneous materials undergoing different deformation regimes.
FINITE ELEMENTS IN ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sadra Bakhshandeh, Carsten Werner, Peter Fratzl, Amaia Cipitria
Summary: Dormancy is a common protective mechanism observed in nature and plays a significant role in cancer metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of the microenvironment and the interplay between intracellular and extracellular cues in inducing and maintaining the dormant state. Understanding the physical perspective of tumor growth and dormancy can provide a global description of these phenomena, independent of specific details of the systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tiago Pires, John W. C. Dunlop, Paulo Rui Fernandes, Andre P. G. Castro
Summary: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis tools have been used in bone tissue engineering (BTE) to design optimal scaffolds for promoting bone growth and repair. However, there is a lack of studies that specify the application of the scaffolds and use optimization methods to improve scaffold design.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elena Macias-Sanchez, Nadezda Tarakina, Danail Ivanov, Stephane Blouin, Andrea M. Berzlanovich, Peter Fratzl
Summary: The mineralization process in bone formation involves the growth of spherulitic-like crystals, guided by the structure of collagen fibrils. This study provides fundamental insights into the bone formation process and has implications for the design of complex materials.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tiago H. Pires, John W. C. Dunlop, Andre P. G. Castro, Paulo R. Fernandes
Summary: When designing bone tissue engineering scaffolds, the wall shear stress (WSS) generated by fluid flow is an important factor to consider. This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to evaluate the average WSS in different scaffold topologies and found that a smooth surface topology with tetrahedral elements resulted in 35% higher WSS compared to a non-smooth surface topology with hexahedral elements. The study also demonstrated the efficacy of using the optimization algorithm simulated annealing to design scaffolds with specific average WSS levels.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tengteng Tang, William Landis, Stephane Blouin, Luca Bertinetti, Markus A. Hartmann, Andrea Berzlanovich, Richard Weinkamer, Wolfgang Wagermaier, Peter Fratzl
Summary: The spatial distribution of mineralization density is vital for bone growth and remodeling processes, while alterations are linked to diseases. In addition to the known lacunocanalicular network, a new nanochannel network has been discovered in the mineralized extracellular matrix of human femoral cortical bone. This network has a greater volume fraction and surface area, potentially allowing for ion and small molecule transport.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wenbo Zhang, Luca Bertinetti, Efe Cuma Yavuzsoy, Changyou Gao, Emanuel Schneck, Peter Fratzl
Summary: Physical forces play a crucial role in the development and function of biological tissues. However, the measurement of osmotic pressures in cell and organ culture systems has been challenging. In this study, novel liposomal sensors based on resonance energy transfer (FRET) were developed to accurately measure osmotic pressures in physiological conditions. These sensors were successfully applied in pre-osteoblastic cell culture systems, paving the way for in situ osmotic pressure sensing in biological cultures.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peter Fratzl
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Laura Zorzetto, Ernesto Scoppola, Emeline Raguin, Kerstin G. Blank, Peter Fratzl, Cecile M. Bidan
Summary: Biofilms form when bacteria colonize a surface and produce extracellular matrix components, including mineral particles such as calcium phosphate. Understanding the mineralization mechanisms in biofilms is crucial for disease prevention and the development of biofilm-based living composites.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emeline Raguin, Richard Weinkamer, Clemens Schmitt, Luca Curcuraci, Peter Fratzl
Summary: During skeletal development, the transport of large amounts of calcium for bone growth and mineralization at low concentration is a major logistical challenge. Using cryo-FIB/SEM imaging, calcium-rich intracellular vesicles were observed in forming bone tissue of a chick embryo femur. Counting and measuring these vesicles revealed that active transport through the cellular network is involved in calcium logistics, along with calcium-binding proteins and blood flow in the vasculature.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shahrouz Amini, Tingting Zhu, Abin Biswas, Mohammad Avalin Charsooghi, Kyoohyun Kim, Simone Reber, Yannicke Dauphin, Peter Fratzl
Summary: The shells of the Pinnidae family have a structure that includes calcitic prisms and inner aragonitic nacre, providing exceptional mechanical performance. However, the absence of nacre on the posterior side raises the question of its functional role. Recent research has shown that the prismatic part of the Pinna nobilis shell has unique optical properties, where each prism acts as an individual optical fiber guiding light to the inner shell cavity through total internal reflection. This optical system enhances spatial resolution, contrast, and reduces angular blurring, making it ideal for tracking moving objects.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Adalbert Raimann, Barbara M. Misof, Peter Fratzl, Nadja Fratzl-Zelman
Summary: This review provides a concise summary of the complex interplay between bone modeling and remodeling during skeletal growth and highlights the complexity of bone tissue characteristics in children with bone disorders.
CURRENT OSTEOPOROSIS REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Fratzl, F. Dieter Fischer, Gerald A. Zickler, John W. C. Dunlop
Summary: Growing tissues can be approximated as viscous fluids and their shape is governed by the surface stress state. Recent research found that cells in the near-surface region of microtissues contract with oriented actin filaments, resulting in highly anisotropic surface properties. A model considering the mechanical anisotropy of the surface is developed, showing that contractile filaments need to follow geodesic lines on the surface for mechanical equilibrium. This theory accurately predicts the surface shape and actin filament direction of microtissues.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Fratzl, F. Dieter Fischer, Gerald A. Zickler, John W. C. Dunlop
Summary: Growing tissues can be approximated as viscous fluids, and their surface shape is governed by surface stress state. Recent research shows that the surface properties of microtissues are highly anisotropic due to the contraction of cells with oriented actin filaments. The authors develop a model that considers the mechanical anisotropy of the surface and find that mechanical equilibrium requires contractile filaments to follow geodesic lines on the surface, accurately predicting the surface shape and actin filament direction.
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Macarena Siri, Maria S. Celej, Peter Fratzl, Cecile Bidan
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nils Horbelt, Peter Fratzl, Matthew J. Harrington
Summary: In this study, we discovered that mistletoe viscin, a natural cellulosic adhesive, exhibits humidity-activated self-adhesive properties and can be processed into films. It adheres strongly to both synthetic materials and biological tissues, making it a promising candidate for biomedical applications, particularly as a wound sealant.