CAREER: Integrated Research and Education on the Size Dependent Deformation in Polymers -- Indentation Tests, Material Modeling, and Numerical Simulations

职业生涯0846692聚合物尺寸相关变形的综合研究和教育-压痕测试，材料建模和数值模拟本学院早期职业发展（CAREER）项目的研究目标是理解和模拟聚合物在小尺寸下的变形行为。研究内容包括实验和理论研究以及数值模拟分析。 在小尺寸下，聚合物的变形可以取决于长度尺度。 在聚合物的压痕实验中已经观察到这种尺寸依赖性变形，其中已经观察到在小压痕深度处硬度的显著增加。 聚合物在微米至亚微米长度尺度上的尺寸依赖性变形并不为人所知，也没有可靠的理论和基本原理。 本项目的目的是发展和验证这种尺寸依赖性变形的理论。 了解聚合物在小尺寸下的变形行为不仅对于技术进步而且对于聚合物物理和化学的根本进步都具有重要意义。 技术应用包括微/纳机电系统、传感器、复合材料。 除了技术上的重要性，尺寸相关的变形对于聚合物物理和材料科学中的基本问题也很重要，如接触和摩擦，断裂和分层，以及材料界面处的变形机制。 作为聚合物？在更广泛的意义上？在生物材料中也有发现，该项目的发现也可能有助于理解人类骨骼和组织，木材和外骨骼的变形机制。 该项目的科学研究融入了教育活动。 包括残疾人和美洲土著印第安人在内的代表性不足的群体的学生将通过夏令营和本科生研究积极参与该项目的研究活动和教育计划。

CAREER 0846692 Integrated Research and Education on the Size Dependent Deformation in Polymers - Indentation Tests, Material Modeling, and Numerical SimulationsThe research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project is the understanding and simulation of the deformation behavior of polymers at small dimensions. The research includes experimental and theoretical investigations as well as numerical simulation analyses. At small dimensions the deformation of polymers can be dependent on the length scale. Such size dependent deformation has been observed in indentation experiments of polymers where significant increases in the hardness at small indentation depths have been observed. The size dependent deformation of polymers at the micrometer to sub-micrometer length scale is not well known and a sound theory and rationale is not available. The purpose of this project is the development and verification of a theory for such size dependent deformation. The understanding of the deformation behavior of polymers at small dimensions is of great importance not only for technological advancement but also for the fundamental advancement of polymer physics and chemistry. Technological applications include micro-/nano-electromechanical systems, sensors, composites. Alongside the technological importance, the size dependent deformation is also of importance for the fundamental issues in polymer physics and materials science like contact and friction, fracture and delamination, and deformation mechanisms at material interfaces. As polymers ? in a broader sense ? are also found in biological materials, the findings of this project may also aid in the understanding of the deformation mechanisms in human bones and tissue, wood, and exoskeletons. The scientific research of this project is integrated into the educational activities. Students of underrepresented groups including individuals with disabilities and Native American Indians will actively participate in the research activities and educational program of this project via summer camps and undergraduate research.