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

聚合物中尺寸相关变形的综合研究与教育-压痕测试，材料建模和数值模拟这个教师早期职业发展（CAREER）项目的研究目标是理解和模拟聚合物在小尺寸上的变形行为。研究包括实验和理论研究以及数值模拟分析。在小尺寸聚合物的变形可以依赖于长度尺度。在聚合物的压痕实验中已经观察到这种尺寸依赖的变形，在小的压痕深度下，硬度显著增加。聚合物在微米至亚微米长度尺度上的尺寸依赖性变形尚不清楚，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变形的理论。了解聚合物的小尺寸变形行为不仅对技术进步具有重要意义，而且对聚合物物理和化学的基础发展具有重要意义。技术应用包括微/纳米机电系统、传感器、复合材料。除了技术上的重要性外，尺寸依赖的变形对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，这个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。本项目的科学研究与教学活动相结合。包括残疾人和印第安原住民在内的弱势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.