PECASE: Mechanics of Biological Adhesion, Friction and Engineered Surfaces

职业：生物粘附、摩擦和工程表面力学摘要了解壁虎等动物表现出的特殊粘附和摩擦背后的机制，如果能够在实验室中模拟自然界的一些高度优化的解决方案，可能会带来重大的技术效益。这样的努力在生物学、应用力学和微/纳米制造之间的界面上提供了一系列富有挑战性的问题。拟议的研究和教育计划试图为开发这一新领域做出贡献，从中可以获得实际利益。工作的重点是在微米和纳米尺度上设计表面的地形，以便(i)了解生物粘附和摩擦系统的机制，（ii）开发仿生策略，实现优化粘附和摩擦的自然机制。拟议的计划将PI的研究活动和实验室设施与他的教育计划和参与外展活动相结合。一些具体的计划是：每年夏天将从历史上的黑人学院或大学（HBCU）招募一名本科生，在整个项目期间参与原创性研究；PI将成为布朗大学团队的一员，协助汉普顿大学（HBCU）开发其机械工程项目；PI还将与布里奇汉姆公立学校（一所市中心的学校，75%的学生是西班牙裔、非裔美国人或美洲原住民）开展合作，将科学事业的兴奋带给中学生。

CAREER: Mechanics of Biological Adhesion, Friction and Engineered SurfacesAbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms behind the exceptional adhesion and friction exhibited by animals such as geckos can potentially lead to significant technological benefits if some of nature's highly optimized solutions can be mimicked in a laboratory. Such an effort offers a rich set of challenging problems at the interface between biology, applied mechanics and micro/nano-fabrication. The proposed research and educational program attempts to contribute towards developing this new area from which practical benefits can be derived. The focus of the effort is on engineering the topography of surfaces at micron and nano scale in order to (i) understand the mechanics of biological adhesion and friction systems and (ii) develop biomimetic strategies which implement nature's mechanisms for optimized adhesion and friction. The proposed program integrates the PI's research activities and laboratory facilities with his educational plans and participating in outreach activities. Some of the specific plans are: an undergraduate student from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) will be recruited each summer to participate in original research, throughout the duration of this project; the PI will be a member of the Brown University team which will assist Hampton University (HBCU) in developing its Mechanical Engineering program; the PI will also develop a collaboration with the Bridgham public school (an inner city school in which 75% of the students are Hispanic, African American or Native American) in bringing the excitement of scientific enterprise to middle school students.