RUI: Origins of Mechanical Fragility in Disordered Solids

RUI：无序固体机械脆性的起源

• 批准号: 1206231
• 负责人: Kevin Aptowicz
• 金额: $ 20.4万
• 依托单位: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-01 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1206231&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Origins; Mechanical; Fragility; Disordered

****Technical Abstract****Within the field of condensed matter physics, our understanding of disordered systems lags far behind our understanding of crystalline ones. In crystalline systems, defects are known to control mechanical fragility, but there are no obvious counterparts to defects in disordered solids. This experimental program explores the source of mechanical fragility in disordered solids by using a recently developed laser-poking technique to perturb disordered colloidal solids and track induced particle rearrangements using video microscopy. Critical to this project is employing a new data analysis approach that has been shown to greatly reduce the complexity of disordered solids, perhaps even identifying structurally weak regions. The results from this project will be a great interest to both the scientific and engineering communities as our current limited understanding of disordered materials impedes the progress in both modeling materials as well as designing new materials with improved mechanical properties. Beyond addressing an important and open question in the field of condensed matter physics, the project will also provide critical experience to undergraduate researchers who will conduct the research and broadly disseminate the results through student-coauthored papers as well as talks at national conferences. Furthermore, the proposed research will offer opportunities to student researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds found at a state institution and encourage them towards careers in science and technology.****Non-Technical Abstract****This experimental program explores the mechanical properties of amorphous solids. In contrast to crystalline solids, amorphous solids have a disordered atomic structure. Because of this complexity, physicists lack a clear physical picture of how the structure of disordered solids relates to their mechanical properties. This limited understanding of disordered materials has hindered the application of such materials as bulk metallic glasses, amorphous thin films, and nanoparticles assemblies. Using a recently developed laser-poking technique, this project will explore the mechanical response of colloidal disordered solids to stress. The experimental results from this research will serve to validate or disprove current theories relating to amorphous solids, aid in the development of a clear physical picture of amorphous solids, and provide a framework to support the development of new materials as well as improve the design of current ones. Beyond addressing an important and open question in the field of condensed matter physics, this project will also provide critical experience to undergraduate researchers who will conduct the research and broadly disseminate the results through student-coauthored papers as well as talks at national conferences. Furthermore, the proposed research will offer opportunities to student researchers from a diverse range of backgrounds found at a state institution and encourage them towards careers in science and technology.

* 技术摘要 * 在凝聚态物理学领域，我们对无序系统的理解远远落后于我们对晶体系统的理解。 在晶体系统中，已知缺陷控制机械脆性，但在无序固体中没有明显的缺陷对应物。 这个实验项目探讨了无序固体中的机械脆性的来源，通过使用最近开发的激光戳技术来扰动无序胶体固体和跟踪诱导的颗粒重排，使用视频显微镜。该项目的关键是采用一种新的数据分析方法，该方法已被证明可以大大降低无序固体的复杂性，甚至可以识别结构薄弱区域。 该项目的结果将引起科学界和工程界的极大兴趣，因为我们目前对无序材料的有限理解阻碍了材料建模和设计具有改进机械性能的新材料的进展。 除了解决凝聚态物理领域的一个重要和开放的问题外，该项目还将为本科研究人员提供关键经验，他们将进行研究并通过学生合著的论文以及全国会议上的演讲广泛传播结果。 此外，拟议的研究将为来自州立机构的各种背景的学生研究人员提供机会，并鼓励他们从事科学和技术事业。非技术摘要 * 本实验项目探索无定形固体的机械性能。 与结晶固体相反，无定形固体具有无序的原子结构。 由于这种复杂性，物理学家缺乏一个清晰的物理图像，无序固体的结构如何与它们的机械性能相关。 这种对无序材料的有限理解阻碍了诸如块体金属玻璃、非晶薄膜和纳米颗粒组装体等材料的应用。 利用最近开发的激光戳技术，本项目将探索胶体无序固体对应力的机械响应。 这项研究的实验结果将有助于验证或反驳与非晶固体相关的当前理论，帮助开发非晶固体的清晰物理图像，并提供一个框架来支持新材料的开发以及改进当前材料的设计。 除了解决凝聚态物理学领域的一个重要和开放的问题外，该项目还将为本科研究人员提供重要的经验，他们将进行研究，并通过学生合著的论文以及全国会议上的演讲广泛传播结果。 此外，拟议的研究将为来自州立机构的各种背景的学生研究人员提供机会，并鼓励他们从事科学和技术事业。