Acquistion of The Nanomechanical Test System for Undergraduate Research and Education

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0321106AbstractThe Hysitron TriboScope Nanomechanical test instrument is a quantitativedepth-sensing nanoindentation and nanoscratch system which is interfaced with a scanningprobe microscope (SPM) to provide in-situ imaging. The acquisition of the TriboScope Nanomechanical Test System will enable us toaddress some of the open issues in the field of nanoscale structural components. Two ofthe open problems include (a) the inconsistent production and fabrication techniques whichlead to varied results for the same nanosystem, (b) the procurement of reliable andfundamental data banks of durability and material properties, and c) the computationalmodeling of nanostructured materials which utilize realistic material properties. Thetypes of experiments that will be performed on this test system will allow for us todirectly address issues (b) and (c). The tests that will be performed include Modulus,hardness, fracture toughness measurements, and the generation of force vs. displacementcurves. Nanostructures represent a new field of science that can extend the size, efficiency anddesign of well-known materials. As this field has progressed, more elaborate structureshave been generated that require a better understanding and more consistent methodologyfor obtaining reliable material properties.With the nation's most successful Dual-Degree Engineering program for African-Americanmales, Morehouse College is well positioned to have a significant impact on the productionof engineers of African American lineage by increasing the number and the retention ofstudents in the engineering and applied physics programs. This equipment will not only serveundergraduates at Morehouse College, but will also serve neighboring undergraduate liberalarts colleges in the AUC. Colleges in the consortium directly impacted by the procurementof this equipment include Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, and SpelmanCollege, a private liberal arts Historically Black College for African-American females.Students from these colleges are not only allowed to cross-register and take classes atthe neighboring schools, but may also complete research projects. Therefore, the researchopportunities at Morehouse will also have a direct impact on the students at ClarkAtlanta, Morris Brown and Spelman College.