For a flexible electronic device integrating inorganic materials on a polymer substrate, the polymer can deform substantially, but the inorganic materials usually fracture at small strains.  This paper describes an approach to make such a device highly stretchable.  A polyimide substrate is first coated with a thin layer of an elastomer, on top of which SiN_x islands are fabricated.  When the substrate is stretched to a large strain, the SiN_x islands remain intact.  Calculations confirm that the elastomer reduces the strain in the S

A postdoctoral research fellow position is currently open in the Computational Nanomechanics group at the University of Pittsburgh for the following research projects in the multidisciplinary areas of computational nanomechanics, nanotechnology, renewable energy, and nanomedicine: 

1. Hydrogen and bio-sensing nanowire fabrication

I am currently seeking for Chinese PhD applicants (now residing in Mainland, China) to work in the experimental characterisation and numerical modelling areas of nanomaterials/polymer nanocomposites at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, Australia. Please see my departmental webpage for any further enquiry (http://mech.eng.curtin.edu.au/dong/index.cfm). The specific research projects can be discussed in contact for the joint research interests.

 dear everyone,

I want to ask if anyone deal with strain gradient proposed

by fleck eat. in 1994 and 1997, using subroutine in ABAQUS ?

Hi everybody,

I modeled a sheet metal forming process in which entire blank is partitioned into two regions (Central and exterior regions). Forming tool is considered as a 3D-Analytical rigid body (Revolved Shell) and partitioned into two regions too. According to this process, the head of punch should be tied to the central region of the blank and punch's walls should contact with exterior region.

In interaction module, I can’t select defined regions on forming tool separately as the surfaces and I don’t know why the whole surface of the punch is selected?

In a lithium-ion battery, both electrodes are atomic frameworks that host mobile lithium ions. When the battery is being charged or discharged, lithium ions diffuse from one electrode to the other. Such an insertion reaction deforms the electrodes, and may cause the electrodes to crack. This paper uses fracture mechanics to determine the critical conditions to avert cracking. The method is applied to cracks induced by the mismatch between phases in crystalline particles of LiFePO4

Programs from Programming the Finite Element Method by Ian M. Smith and D. V. Griffiths are downloadable from: www.mines.edu/~vgriffit/4th_ed/Software This title demonstrates how to develop computer programmes which solve specific engineering problems using the finite element method. It enables students, scientists and engineers to assemble their own computer programmes to produce numerical results to solve these problems.

Please allow me to note that I have recently published in Philosophical Magazine a paper that presents a general approach to Gibbsian surface thermodynamics that includes a treatment of solid surfaces.  It can be accessed through the following link: 

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a792987191