Computational Engineering of Bio-inspired Hierarchical Surfaces and Multi-functional Materials based on the Plywood Architecture

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Through the course of evolution, Nature has optimized the structure and*functionalities of bulk materials and surfaces. Functional hierarchical surfaces were developed with optimized wettability (lotus*leaf), drag reduction (sharkskin), and structural colors (tulips). Hierarchical*structures (bone, insect's exocuticle, tusk) were developed to form light*weight structures with outstanding unrivaled mechanical properties. Nature's materials*engineering relies on few chemical elements to produce functional, adaptive, responsive,*self-healing and structural materials , formed in water environments, at low temperature*and ambient pressure, using processing methods based on self-assembly and self-organization. To meet the challenges in energy,*environment, transportation, and health sectors through*materials innovations, the bio-inspired materials innovation method learns from*Nature how to produce materials and surfaces with unrivaled functionalities. A second innovation driver is integrated computational*materials engineering, relying on science-based theory, rigorous process modeling, and high performance*computing trough access to Compute Canada resources. This research integrates these two innovation drivers focusing on*the ubiquitous plywood fiber architecture found through Nature's unrivaled composites.*Using liquid crystal models exhibiting plywood organization we seek to predict*and characterize hierarchical surfaces that have structural color and drag*reduction functionalities. Processes that lead to cornea-like tissues and*helical plywoods found in bone, will be predicted and optimized for mechanical*functionalities.******The novelty of this proposal is the formulation, implementation and validation of a*materials' design method that remains close to Nature's engineering by using as a starting point similar*soft matter precursors and novel self-assembly mechanisms. The precursors are based on cellulose and proteins and the self-assembly takes into account important processes such as mass transfer, excluded volume, elasticity and chirality, as found in Nature. The outcome is an*integrated materials fabrication method , systematically linking process-structure-functionalities*permitting accelerated optimization of optical,tribological, and mechanical*functionalities derived from the plywood*architecture found throughout Nature's fibrous composites.******Cutting-edge soft matter*materials science applied to real green engineering manufacturing has direct,*timely relevance for Canada's vast resources and wide interests in various soft*matter material precursors (i.e. cellulosics, chitin), being developed in*government/academia/industry research laboratories. The unique synergies of*fundamental science, engineering technology, high performance computing , interdisciplinary approaches and*international collaborations enable students to develop highly-valued skills in*the science and technology of advanced structural and multi functional materials and biological materials.