CAREER: Multiscale Investigation and Mimicry of Naturally-Occurring Ultra-High Performance Composite Materials

该学院早期职业发展(CALEAR)项目通过计算/实验相结合的方法研究极坚韧生物复合材料的结构与性能之间的关系。它将特别关注几何和长度尺度的协同作用，通过研究在一些非常坚固的天然材料中观察到的微观结构和界面中的特定特征，如层级、周期性和图案化。研究方法包括：i)使用多尺度计算方法，辅以特殊设计的实验，探索、识别和量化天然复合材料的单个多尺度变形机制的贡献；ii)采用采用先进3D打印技术的计算和原型建模相结合的方法进行仿生工作；iii)开发设计指南，随后通过构建包含(I)和(Ii)中确定的最重要微结构特征的材料来验证。获得这些洞察力将揭示开发耐冲击和耐损坏材料的设计规则。对设计和开发具有高强度和耐久性、低成本、可再生、性能和质量组合新颖的先进高性能结构材料的新范式有着强烈的需求。我们将研究生物复合材料，通过控制纳米和微观结构特征，在不牺牲刚度和强度的情况下获得高韧性，从而显着改善其他脆性材料的力学性能。此外，这项研究还将为高性能和多功能材料的开发提供合理的力学框架，这些材料在能源、国防、国土安全、民用、工业安全、医药和汽车工业等领域的广泛技术相关应用。教育部分与研究紧密结合，以其多学科的性质启发和吸引学生进入STEM领域。本科生和研究生将在跨学科的环境中接受指导。此外，研究与教育之间的整合将通过注入网络学习工具和实践经验，将生物学的组成部分纳入与材料相关的课程，从而改善工科本科生和研究生教育。国际和平研究所将推出一门新的多学科课程，题为《受自然启发的基础设施应用及以后的材料和结构》，由来自生物科学、化学、材料科学和其他工程学科的特邀讲师主讲。

This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project investigates the structure-property relationship of extremely tough biological composites through a combined computational/experimental methodology. It will particularly focus on the synergetic role of geometry and length scales by investigating specific features such as hierarchy, periodicity and patterning in the microstructure and interfaces observed in some extraordinarily strong natural materials. The research approach consists of: i) exploring, identifying and quantifying the contributions of the individual multiscale deformation mechanisms of the natural composites using a multiscale computational approach aided by specially designed experiments, ii) a biomimetic effort following a combined computational and prototype modeling approach that employs advanced 3D printing techniques, and iii) developing design guidelines, validated later by constructing materials that incorporate the most important microstructural features identified in (i) and (ii). Achieving these insights will uncover design rules to develop impact and damage tolerant materials. There is a strong demand for new paradigms of design and development of advanced high-performance structural materials with high strength and durability, low in cost and renewable with novel combinations of properties and qualities. We will study biological composite materials that can achieve high toughness without sacrificing stiffness and strength by control of nano- and microstructural features that significantly improve the mechanical performance of otherwise brittle materials. Additionally, this research will provide the rational mechanics framework for the development of high-performance and multifunctional materials for a wide range of technologically relevant applications in the areas of energy, defense, homeland security, civil, industrial safety, medicine and automotive industry. The educational component is closely integrated with the research, to inspire and attract students to the STEM field by its multidisciplinary nature. Undergraduate and graduate students will be mentored in an interdisciplinary setting. Additionally, the integration between research and education will improve engineering undergraduate and graduate education by including components of biology in material related courses through the infusion of cyberlearning tools and hands-on experience. The PI will introduce a new multidisciplinary course entitled "Materials and structures inspired by Nature for infrastructure applications and beyond" with special guest lecturers from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Science and other engineering disciplines.