Multi-physics modeling on soft and smart materials for applications and development of soft material-based devices and metamaterials

软质和智能材料的多物理场建模，用于基于软质材料的设备和超材料的应用和开发

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03703
• 负责人: Jiang, Liying
• 金额: $ 2.33万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=759852
• 关键词: Multi; physics; modeling; soft; smart

It is well known that systems in engineering mostly use hard materials, while life and biological systems are usually composed of soft and active substances. This conspicuous contrast has prompted a nascent field of soft material engineering systems in the research community. One of the future challenges facing the human society will emerge on the interface between engineering and biological systems. To overcome this future challenge, it is essential to study soft materials with extraordinary functions since they have the potential to seamlessly connect engineering and biological systems. As typical soft and smart materials, dielectric elastomers (DEs) and hydrogels have received growing interest in a variety of engineering fields due to their unique properties, particularly large deformation capability under external stimuli. These materials have potential applications as soft material-based devices including artificial muscles, soft robots, biomedical devices, soft machines, haptic interfaces and etc. Better exploitation of these novel materials requires increased understanding on the fundamentals governing their delicate multi-physics coupling mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of this research program is to establish a rigorous modeling and simulation framework to predict the performance of systems based on soft and smart materials through elucidating the complex interplay among multi-physics coupling, material viscoelasticity, geometric nonlinearity, and various failure modes. The grand vision of this research is to develop multi-functional soft material-based devices and metamaterials with desirable properties that could be actively controlled by external stimuli. The theoretical modeling framework is based on continuum mechanics and the theories of thermodynamics. The performance of these soft material-based structures will be investigated through both theoretical modeling and numerical simulations. This innovative research program will take full advantage of the applicant's expertise in multi-physics modeling, continuum mechanics, composites, finite element modeling, as well as dynamic analysis of structures. The training through this program will equip HQP with extensive experiences and skills in the area of smart and soft materials, including modeling development and numerical simulation in characterizing material properties, as well as design methodology of new advanced materials. We are very optimistic that the outcomes from this program will nurture great opportunities to establish industrial collaborations and provide new job opportunities. The successful completion of this program will help to develop the next-generation soft material-based devices to be deployed across the economy in advanced materials and manufacturing, biomedical, transduction technology, and beyond. In addition, this frontier work will also enhance Canada's profile in the global academic community.

众所周知，工程系统主要使用硬材料，而生命和生物系统通常由柔软和活性物质组成。这种显着的对比促使研究界的软材材料工程系统的新生领域。人类社会面临的未来挑战之一将在工程与生物系统之间的界面上出现。为了克服未来的挑战，必须研究具有非凡功能的软材料，因为它们有可能无缝连接工程和生物系统。 由于典型的软材料和智能材料，由于其独特的特性，尤其是外部刺激下的较大的变形能力，介电弹性体（DES）和水凝胶对各种工程领域都越来越兴趣。这些材料具有潜在的应用，作为柔软的基于材料的设备，包括人造肌肉，软机器人，生物医学设备，软机器，触觉界面等。更好地利用这些新型材料，需要对管理其精致多物理学耦合机制的基本面进行更多的了解。因此，该研究计划的目的是建立一个严格的建模和模拟框架，以通过阐明多物理耦合，材料粘弹性，几何非线性和各种故障模式之间的复杂相互作用来预测基于软材料的系统性能。这项研究的宏伟视觉是开发具有可取特性的多功能软材料设备和超材料，可以通过外部刺激积极控制。 理论建模框架基于连续力学和热力学理论。这些基于材料的结构的性能将通过理论建模和数值模拟进行研究。该创新的研究计划将充分利用申请人在多物理建模，连续机械，复合材料，有限元建模以及结构的动态分析方面的专业知识。通过该计划进行的培训将为HQP提供智能和软材料领域的丰富经验和技能，包括在表征材料属性中建模开发和数值模拟，以及新的高级材料的设计方法。我们非常乐观的是，该计划的结果将培养建立工业合作并提供新的工作机会的绝佳机会。该计划的成功完成将有助于开发下一代软材料的设备，该设备将在经济中部署在高级材料和制造，生物医学，转导技术以及其他方面。此外，这项边界工作还将增强加拿大在全球学术界的知名度。