Blog posts

The point group symmetry of materials is closely related to their physical properties and quite important for material modelling. However, superlattice materials have more complex symmetry conditions than crystals due to their multilevel structural feature. Thus, a theoretical framework is proposed to characterize and determine the point group symmetry of non-magnetic superlattice materials systematically. A variety of examples are presented to show the symmetry features of superlattice materials in different dimensions and scales.

PhD/Postdoctoral Positions in the areas of computational mechanics and/or soft tissue biomechanics are available in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Overall, we look for candidates with strong background in experimental and/or numerical methods, excellent programming skills, and experience with high performance computing.

More information can be found at  http://cbrl.lab.uic.edu/positions/

PhD student in Numerical modelling of fretting fatigue crack propagation

• Last application date: 1^st of February 2016 

• Department: Soete Laboratory

• Contract type: Limited duration (4 years)

• Occupancy rate: 100%

• Vacancy type: Research staff

One PhD studentship position is available at Soete Laboratory - Ghent University, Belgium.

Self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules into various supramolecular nano-structural aggregates has drawn the attention of chemists, physicists, and engineers in recent decades.

Cracks generate the largest strain gradients that any material can withstand. Flexoelectricity (coupling between strain gradient and polarization) must therefore play an important role in fracture physics. Here we use a self-consistent continuum model to evidence two consequences of flexoelectricity in fracture: the resistance to fracture increases as structural size decreases, and it becomes asymmetric with respect to the sign of polarization. The latter phenomenon manifests itself in a range of intermediate sizes where piezo- and flexoelectricity compete.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University (http://me.stanford.edu/) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty appointment at the junior level (Assistant or untenured Associate Professor). Applications will be reviewed across all disciplines of mechanical engineering. As part of recent strategic planning, the department has identified special hiring needs and opportunities in controls, robotics, manufacturing, and biomedical engineering.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) refers to techniques that are used in the life-cycle of a structural component to investigate their quality, functionality and 'health' without destroying the object, nor affecting its properties. The continuous development of more advanced materials, like fiber reinforced plastics, requires new and more sophisticated NDT techniques. One such an innovative NDT technique is the Ultrasonic Polar Scan (UPS) which has recently been developed, both experimentally and numerically, in our research group.

The core idea of this fundamental research project is to develop a consistent multi-scale modelling framework for fatigue damage in unidirectionally reinforced composites. Three scales are distinguished: (i) the micro-scale, where individual fibre filaments are arranged in a polymer matrix.