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

该提案是为了响应纳米科学与工程倡议，NSF 03-043，类别NIRT（纳米跨学科研究小组），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开发实验，理论和计算方法的聚合物和生物纳米纤维的机械特性。随着新的和精细的纳米纤维能力的到位，这些纳米材料越来越重要。亚微米尺寸结构的非连续行为需要创新的实验和分析处理，以解决宏观力学概念不适用的纳米尺度下的材料行为。这一挑战是由一个跨学科的研究小组联盟承担的，该联盟具有纳米级制造，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旨在开发新型微仪器和数值/分析多尺度模型及其在聚合物和生物纳米纤维的材料结构和机械性能的研究和桥接中的应用。这项研究将支持我们对材料系统，尺度和几何形状之间的相互关系的基本理解，为纳米材料制造提供见解和指导方针，并创建多尺度纳米力学的综合实验和模型的范例。这项工作的结果预计将支持纳米级的设计和制造的层次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。 主要研究者（PI）将通过研究生和本科生与本联盟所有节点的PI之间的密切互动，追求纳米科学和纳米技术研究和教育活动的整合。与工业合作者的伙伴关系将促进纳米技术领域未来科学家和工程师的跨学科培训，并协助将纳米技术产品及时过渡到公众。这项研究的结果将被纳入纳米技术和计算机建模的研究生课程，并将被纳入正在进行的K-12推广活动的PI。

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.