NIRT: Novel Experiments and Models for the Nanomechanics of Polymeric and Biological Nanofibers

这项建议是为了响应纳米科学和工程倡议，NSF 03-043，NIRT(纳米尺度跨学科研究团队)类别，特别强调研究主题纳米结构和多尺度建模。拟议的研究计划的目标是为聚合物和生物纳米纤维的力学表征开发实验、理论和计算方法。随着新的和改进的纳米制造能力的到位，这些纳米材料变得越来越重要。亚微米级结构的非连续体行为需要创新的实验和分析方法，以解决材料在纳米尺度上的行为，而宏观力学概念是不适用的。这一挑战由一个由研究小组组成的跨学科联盟承担，该联盟拥有纳米纤维制造、纳米尺度的机械测量以及分子系统的分析和计算描述方面的综合专业知识。拟议的跨学科努力将致力于开发新型微仪器和数值/分析多尺度模型，并将其应用于聚合物纳米纤维和生物纳米纤维的材料结构和力学性能的研究和桥梁。这项研究将支持我们对材料体系、尺度和几何之间相互关系的基本理解，为纳米材料的制备提供洞察力和指导方针，并创建多尺度纳米力学综合实验和模型的范式。这项工作的结果有望为层次化和仿生纳米生物材料和复合材料、组织生物力学和高密度纳米电子学的纳米级设计和制造提供支持。首席调查员将通过研究生和本科生与该联盟所有节点的首席调查员之间的密切互动，将纳米科学和纳米技术方面的研究和教育活动整合在一起。与业界合作伙伴的伙伴关系将促进未来科学家和工程师在纳米技术领域的跨学科培训，并帮助纳米技术产品及时向公众过渡。这项研究的结果将纳入有关纳米技术和计算机模拟的研究生班，并将纳入正在进行的私人投资机构的K-12外联活动。

This proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 03-043, category NIRT (Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams), with special emphasis on the research themes Nanoscale Structures and Multiscale Modeling. The goal of the proposed research program is to develop experimental, theoretical, and computational methodologies for the mechanical characterization of polymeric and biological nanofibers. These nanomaterials are of increasing importance as new and refined nanofabrication capabilities are in place. The non-continuum behavior of sub-micron size structures requires innovative experimental and analytical treatments that address the material behavior at the nanometer scale where macromechanics concepts are inapplicable. This challenge is undertaken by an interdisciplinary Consortium of research groups with combined expertise in nanofiber fabrication, mechanical measurements at the nanoscale, and analytical and computational description of molecular systems. The proposed interdisciplinary effort will be aimed at the development of novel micro-instrumentation and numerical/analytical multiscale models and their application in the investigation and bridging of material structure and mechanical properties of polymeric and biological nanofibers. This research will support our fundamental understanding of the interrelations between material systems, scale and geometry, provide insight and guidelines for nanoscale materials fabrication, and create a paradigm of integrated experiments and models in multiscale nanomechanics. The results of this work are expected to support nanoscale design and fabrication of hierarchical and biomimetic nano-biomaterials and composites, tissue biomechanics, and high-density nanoelectronics. The Principal Investigators (PIs) will pursue the integration of research and educational activities in nanoscience and nanotechnology via the close interaction between graduate and undergraduate students and PIs at all nodes of this Consortium. The partnership with industrial collaborators will promote the interdisciplinary training of future scientists and engineers in the area of nanotechnology and assist the timely transition of the products of nanotechnology to the general public. Results from this research will be integrated in graduate courses on nanotechnology and computer modeling and will be included in the on-going K-12 outreach activities of the PIs.