Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wenjun Wu, Pai Liu, Zhan Kang
Summary: This study developed a new type of mechanical metamaterial that always undergoes lateral expansion regardless of the sign of the uniaxial load. By utilizing contact nonlinearity and deformation mode switching, this novel metamaterial can exhibit positive, negative, and zero Poisson's ratios under different loading directions.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Kunyuan Li, Yong Zhang, Yubo Hou, Liang Su, Guoyao Zeng, Xiang Xu
Summary: This paper proposes a new auxetic metamaterial called re-entrant star-shape anti-chiral auxetic metamaterial (Re-S-AC) and investigates its in-plane mechanical properties through experimental tests and numerical analysis. The crushing test of Re-S-AC fabricated by the selective laser melting (SLM) method is conducted to investigate its deformation mechanism and validate the numerical model. Compared to other structures, Re-S-AC exhibits both concave and rotational deformation under in-plane compression and has the highest mean compression stress at the same thickness and mass. Furthermore, parametric analysis reveals the significant effect of geometric characteristics, such as node center distance, node diameter, and wall thickness, on the mechanical properties and deformation mode of Re-S-AC.
THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Hechang Shi, Hongda Cheng, Changyu Han, Yanchun Yu, Mengdie Yu, Ye Zhang
Summary: This work investigates the effect of uniaxial stretching on the properties of neat poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and miscible PLLA/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) blends. The stretching process influences the thermal properties, crystallization behavior, miscibility, crystal structure, and mechanical properties of the materials. With an increased stretching ratio, the chains in PLLA and PLLA/PVAc blends become more oriented and exhibit enhanced crystallization, resulting in changes in thermal properties and improved toughness. The findings provide insight into the effect of stretching on miscible PLLA blends and offer practical implications for their large-scale application.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Muhammad Usman, Nabil Jamhour, Jeffrey Hettinger, Wei Xue
Summary: Flexible and stretchable temperature sensors have attracted attention for their lightweight and adaptable nature. This paper presents a novel flexible temperature sensor that can compensate for resistance changes caused by mechanical deformation. The sensor is composed of two RTDs on a PDMS substrate, providing compensation against bending and stretching. The compensation method enhances accuracy and allows for reliable temperature measurement. The sensor is connected to a Bluetooth-integrated microcontroller which can determine the sensor's bending or stretching state. The compensation method greatly enhances the potential for wearable electronics applications.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fei Song, Yu-Zhong Wang, Ze-Lian Zhang, Xiu Dong, Yu-Yao Zhao, Xiu-Li Wang
Summary: This article presents a method for developing flexible and elastic CNC composite films with visible structural colors and stretching-induced color change, resembling the skin of a chameleon, through co-assembly and polymerization strategy. The film can be designed as a smart skin for camouflage by adjusting the stretching.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Wenheng Han, Wei Gao, Xingzhe Wang
Summary: Smart mechanical metamaterials based on magnetoactive soft materials were designed and prepared, showing super deformation characteristics and potential applications in various fields through the special structure design. The multi-modal shape changes in a biomimetic blood vessel were demonstrated as an example of its effectiveness, indicating promising applications in soft robots, healthcare, and flexible electronics.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Oleg N. Primachenko, Yuri Kulvelis, Elena A. Marinenko, Iosif Gofman, Vasily T. Lebedev, Svetlana Kononova, Alexander Kuklin, Oleksandr I. Ivankov, Dmytro Soloviov, Alexis Chenneviere
Summary: The Aquivion (R)-type perfluorinated proton conducting membranes can have their electrochemical and physical-chemical properties regulated by the method of orientational stretching, resulting in increased proton conductivity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Z. Yan, A. Zaoui, F. Zairi
Summary: The mechanical and shape memory properties of branched polyethylene are greatly influenced by the length, number, and temperature of the branched chains. Lower temperature leads to lower elastic modulus. Longer length and smaller number of branched chains result in higher stress in the hardening phase. Fewer and shorter branched chains contribute to better shape memory properties, and shape memory behavior enhances stress hardening.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Fei Dong, Shiquan Huang, Youping Yi, Hailin He, Ke Huang, Shenglei Gao, Yanzhen Jia, Wenwen Yu
Summary: The three-step process of solution treatment, stretching deformation at cryogenic temperature, and artificial aging treatment is a potential route for fabricating complex shaped thin-walled components of aluminum alloy. Cryogenic stretching deformation in 2060 Al-Li alloy led to increased T-1 phase nucleation sites, resulting in a markedly homogeneous distribution and optimized after-aging mechanical properties with high strength. High ductility was maintained due to the alloy's high homogeneous deformation ability at cryogenic temperature.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Oscar Rabaux, Raphael Riva, Ludovic Noels, Christine Jerome
Summary: This study demonstrates the fabrication of self-folding shape-memory elastomer composite sheets using a simple impregnation process. The folding shape of the composite is controlled by the orientation, size, and applied stress of the honeycomb pattern, and exhibits high shape recovery and robust shape memory cycling.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lizi Cheng, Tao Tang, Haokun Yang, Fengqian Hao, Ge Wu, Fucong Lyu, Yu Bu, Yilu Zhao, Yan Zhao, Guo Liu, Xuan Cheng, Jian Lu
Summary: By integrating hierarchy and size effects, microarchitected metamaterials fabricated with a metallic or ceramic coating can achieve both high strength and lightweight properties. Inspired by the Pantheon dome in Rome, microarchitected domes with a gradient helix design exhibit graceful failure during compression, increasing compressive strength significantly. The combination of architectural and material design offers a promising method of suppressing brittle failure and enhancing functionality in metamaterials.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Xuebo Yuan, Youshan Wang
Summary: A theoretical model for the mechanical responses of Archimedean-spiral interconnects is developed based on finite deformation plane-strain beam theory. The key parameters of the mechanical responses, including effective tensile stress, maximum strain, and deformed configurations, are analytically derived and validated by finite element analysis. The results demonstrate that the stress-strain responses and elastic stretchability of the Archimedean-spiral interconnects can be well controlled by three nondimensionless variables. The study shows that Archimedean-spiral interconnects may have advantages over serpentine interconnects in future stretchable electronics.
THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Mechanics
Yi Zhang, Yang Pan, Dong Han, Wei Zhong Jiang, Wei Jiang, Xue Gang Zhang, Xing Chi Teng, Xi Hai Ni, Xin Ren
Summary: A novel metamaterial with enhanced programmable CTE range is proposed in this study by combining bending-dominated and stretching-dominated unit cells. The design process includes replacing the sides of the triangle unit cell with bi-material anti-chiral unit cells to achieve thermal deformation. The results demonstrate significant improvements in the CTE range, design smoothness, continuity, and flexibility of the metamaterial.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoxing Wang, Yu Zhou, Jingli Li, Huijian Li
Summary: By analyzing stress-strain curves and comparing performance parameters of different materials, it was found that epoxy composites with suitable PPI foam nickel-iron combinations have higher effective elastic modulus and unit volume energy absorption rate compared to pure epoxy and pure foam nickel-iron.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenping Ma, Zihao Liu, Jian Zou, Hao-Yang Mi, Yuejun Liu, Xin Jing
Summary: The developed ultrasensitive sensor with high healing efficiency of synthesized silicone elastomer displayed excellent reusability. Capturing human motions using wearable electronics provides great opportunities for human-machine interfaces. However, current flexible sensors face challenges due to the contradiction between self-healing property and mechanical performance of flexible matrix, as well as limited strain sensing range. Inspired by hydrogen bonding and metal coordination, a self-healable elastomer was synthesized, showing high tensile strength and self-healing efficiency. The flexible sensor, using this elastomer substrate and carbon nanotube conductive component, exhibited high gauge factor and fast response.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hares Wahdat, Cathy Zhang, Nicky Chan, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: The pressurized interfacial failure (PIF) method allows for controlling the interfacial failure mechanism in soft materials, providing a new foundation for quantitatively decoupling the interfacial and bulk contributions to soft polymer adhesion. By analyzing the force-displacement relationships and critical energy release rate for interfacial separation, this method offers insights that traditional tack tests may not reveal.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
N. P. Hyun, J. P. Olberding, A. De, S. Divi, X. Liang, E. Thomas, R. St Pierre, E. Steinhardt, J. Jorge, S. J. Longo, S. Cox, E. Mendoza, G. P. Sutton, E. Azizi, A. J. Crosby, S. Bergbreiter, R. J. Wood, S. N. Patek
Summary: Ultrafast movements propelled by springs and released by latches are found to be controllable during latch release and spring propulsion, suggesting unrecognized capabilities for control. A framework of control pathways leveraging the non-linear dynamics of spring-propelled, latch-released systems is developed, allowing for both internal and external adjustments. This deeper understanding of control pathways in ultrafast biomechanical systems has the potential to expand synthetic ultra-fast systems and provide insights into the behaviors of fast organisms subject to perturbations and environmental non-idealities.
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongbo Fu, Alfred J. J. Crosby
Summary: The elasto-adhesion length (l(EA)) is a materials property that characterizes the transition in importance between adhesion and elastic forces in defined structures and functions. A new method is introduced to determine l(EA) solely through visual inspection, by introducing a controlled void in a soft material and deriving a relationship between the observed equilibrium configuration of the void and l(EA). This method allows for easy measurement of l(EA) for difficult-to-handle soft materials and can be adapted for different chemistries and materials.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dylan M. Barber, Todd Emrick, Gregory M. Grason, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate a photocreasing design that encodes local curvature and twist into mesoscale polymer filaments, enabling their programmed transformation into target 3-dimensional geometries. The patterned photocreasing of filament arrays drives autonomous spinning to form linked filament bundles that are highly entangled and structurally robust. Photocreases in individual filaments unlock paths to arbitrary, 3-dimensional curves in space.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michelle K. Gaines, Imani Y. Page, Nolan A. Miller, Benjamin R. Greenvall, Joshua J. Medina, Duncan J. Irschick, Adeline Southard, Alexander E. Ribbe, Gregory M. Grason, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: Hair is a natural polymer composite primarily composed of keratin proteins. The appearance and classification of hair play a significant role in society. In recent decades, there has been a shift towards accepting and styling curly hair based on its innate properties, leading to the development of new hair classification systems. This research aims to identify quantitative geometric parameters representative of curly hair to guide the development of personalized hair care products and correlate these parameters with mechanical properties.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Elayne M. Thomas, Matthew K. McBride, Owen A. Lee, Ryan C. Hayward, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: Electroadhesion is a technology that modulates adhesive forces through electrostatic interactions and has potential applications in next-generation technologies. This study presents a fracture mechanics framework for understanding electroadhesion in soft materials, incorporating geometric and electrostatic contributions. The results emphasize the importance of material compliance and geometric confinement in enhancing electroadhesive performance and designing electroadhesive devices.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Luca H. Fuller, Kourosh F. Karimy, Paige L. Ruschke, Meredith M. Taghon, Alfred J. Crosby, Seth W. Donahue
Summary: This study reveals that the velar bone tissue in bighorn sheep rams' horncore has energy absorption capabilities, which helps reduce brain cavity accelerations during high-energy head impacts. The study also found that the velar bone tissue has lower flexibility and toughness compared to other mammalian cortical bone tissues. The presence of osteons in the velar bone, which are rarely found in trabecular struts, was also discovered. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of how bighorn sheep avoid brain injuries during head-to-head impacts.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shachar Keren, Cynthia Bukowski, Maya Barzilay, Myounguk Kim, Mikhail Stolov, Alfred J. Crosby, Noy Cohen, Tamar Segal-Peretz
Summary: Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) is an emerging technique for fabricating hybrid organic-inorganic materials with nanoscale precision and controlled properties. This work studies the nanocomposite morphology and its effect on the mechanical behavior of SIS-based hybrid thin films of AlOx -PMMA under aqueous environments. Results show that the AlOx content affects the modulus and yield stress of the material. Additionally, the presence of AlOx induces water uptake, which further influences the performance of the hybrid materials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hyemin Kim, James J. J. Watkins, Alfred J. J. Crosby
Summary: Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) bottlebrush elastomers (BBEs) are soft materials with controlled bulk mechanical properties. A study of the adhesion of PDMS BBEs to glass reveals that the critical energy release rates, G(c), for initiating separation are independent of crosslink density. The monomer chemistry of side chains plays a primary role in defining surface properties, while the faster dissipative relaxation mechanisms within BBEs contribute to their lower G(c) and less velocity dependence compared to linear chain networks.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos A. Lugo, Chiara Airoldi, Chao Chen, Alfred J. Crosby, Beverley J. Glover
Summary: We study the origin and propagation of surface nano-ridges in plant petal epidermal cells using the model system Hibiscus trionum. By tracking the development of cell shape and cuticle, we observe the formation of two distinct sub-layers in the cuticle and propose a mechanical model assuming it behaves as a growing bi-layer. Our numerical investigations in two- and three-dimensional settings replicate the observed developmental trajectories in petals and provide insights into the factors influencing the pattern features.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Brianna MacNider, Xudong Liang, Samantha Hoang, Maroun Abi Ghanem, Shengqiang Cai, Nicholas Boechler
Summary: In this study, we investigate the formation of dynamic wrinkles in a system consisting of a stiff film on a viscoelastic substrate, and observe spatiotemporally varying wavelengths that depend on the impact velocity. The observed range of wavelengths exceeds that observed under quasistatic loading and is influenced by both inertial and viscoelastic effects. Additionally, we examine the influence of film damage on the dynamic buckling behavior and find that it can be tailored. This work is expected to have applications in soft elastoelectronic and optic systems, as well as open up new routes for nanofabrication.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Henzel, Japinder Nijjer, S. Chockalingam, Hares Wahdat, Alfred J. Crosby, Jing Yan, Tal Cohen
Summary: This study reveals interfacial cavitation as a previously unconsidered failure mechanism and provides experimental evidence confirming its prevalence in both natural and synthetic material systems. The research demonstrates interfacial cavitation phenomena at two different length scales through experimental observation and theoretical model, highlighting the competition between bulk and interfacial cavitation modes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ipek Sacligil, Christopher W. Barney, Alfred J. Crosby, Gregory N. Tew
Summary: Reconfigurable polymer networks are smart materials that have the potential applications as self-healing, recyclable, and stimuli-responsive. In this study, transition metal-terpyridine networks were used to modulate the network stress relaxation time, and it was found that the stress relaxation time can be tuned by the metal center, counterion, and crosslink density. It was also observed that networks crosslinked with covalent-like interactions have a longer stress relaxation time but are qualitatively similar to other networks in terms of properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Christopher W. Barney, Ipek Sacligil, Gregory N. Tew, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between the molecular structure of materials and their expansion mechanism. The results show that the expansion mechanism can be altered by adjusting the ratio between the elastofracture length and the crack geometry under specific conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chao Chen, Hua-Feng Fei, James J. Watkins, Alfred J. Crosby
Summary: In this study, a soft, solvent-free, double-network polydimethylsiloxane (DN-PDMS) material was developed, which achieves ultralow stiffness and improved toughness through one network, and self-healing functionality through another network.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
