Possessing a strong piezoresistivity, nanocomposites of metal nanowires and elastomer have been studied extensively for its use in highly flexible, stretchable, and sensitive sensors. In this work, we analyze the working mechanism and performance of a nanocomposite based stretchable strain sensor by calculating the conductivity of the nanowire percolation network as a function of strain. We reveal that the nonlinear piezoresistivity is attributed to the topological change of percolation network, which leads to a bottleneck in the electric path.

A post doctoral position is available at the University of Limerick, Ireland. The object of the research, which is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), is to obtain an understanding of the mechanical behaviour of ferritic and martensitic steels at the micron and sub-micron scale and to link this behaviour to component behaviour. The work will involve computational and experimental studies of material behaviour using a range of numerical and experimental techniques.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara seeks applications for possible part-time Temporary Lecturer positions in all areas of Mechanical Engineering. Main duties may include teaching required lower or upper division ME courses, as well as upper division electives. The ideal candidate should be interested and experienced in teaching in different educational settings - from project-oriented, inquiry-based classes, to larger, more traditional, lecture-oriented classes. An M.S.

Electrochemical lithiation/delithiation causes 300% volume change in solid silicon. Whereas hierarchical porous Si synthesized by GM causes negligible apparent volume change when breathing lithium.  

The December Issue of JDBM is now available, completing the first year of this new journal sponsored by the Society for Experimental Mechanics.  Springer is making all papers freely available for the first two years. http://link.springer.com/journal/volumesAndIssues/40870

Attatched are the slides for a course on engineering thermodynamics.  Before coming to class, please watch this tutorial on psychrometry. 

A postdoctoral research fellow is sought to join the Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Phenomena (neplab.net) under the direction of Prof. Justin W. Wilkerson at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).