NIRT: Theoretical Nanomechanics: From Cells to Solids

一群不同的理论科学家和工程师将研究纳米级晶体固体、生物材料和固态-生物组合系统的机械行为。我们的战略将是通过研究三个典型的纳米力学问题来开发广泛适用的理论和计算方法：NEMS中的摩擦，生物材料的力学，以及生物功能化NEMS设备的设计和模拟。我们将通过一个广泛的外展计划来补充这些研究和教育活动，包括纳米力学暑期班和纳米科学和工程的公开讲座系列。提议的活动的智力价值是什么？传统的原子论和连续介质力学方法已经无法描述许多感兴趣的纳米级系统的力学性质。在我们看来，需要真正多尺度的新的理论和计算方法。拟议的活动有哪些更广泛的影响？更广泛的影响有两个方面：第一，学生的教育和培训将融入我们研究计划的方方面面。此外，纳米力学暑期班的主要观众将是研究生和博士后。第二，晚间系列讲座将直接面向普通公众，并将提高公众对纳米科学和工程的认识和欣赏。这项NIRT建议重点关注NSE主题纳米尺度的多尺度、多现象理论、建模和模拟，并由NSF的CMS、DMS和DMR部门资助。

A diverse group of theoretical scientists and engineers will investigate the mechanical behavior of nanoscale crystalline solids, biological materials, and combined solid-state--biological systems. Our strategy will be to develop broadly applicable theoretical and computational methods by examining three paradigmatic nanomechanics problems: friction in NEMS, the mechanics of biological materials, and the design and simulation of bio-functionalized NEMS devices . We will supplement these research and educational activities with an extensive outreach program, consisting of a summer school on nanomechanics and a public lecture series on nanoscale science and engineering. What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? Traditional atomistic and continuum mechanics approaches have been unable to describe the mechanical properties of many nanoscale systems of interest. In our opinion, new theoretical and computational approaches are required that are genuinely multi-scale in nature. What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? The broader impacts are twofold: First, the education and training of students will be integrated with every aspect of our research program. Also, graduate students and postdocs would be the principal audience at the nanomechanics summer school. Second, the evening lecture series would be directly targeted to the general public, and would enhance public awareness of and appreciation of nanoscale science andengineering.This NIRT proposal focuses on the NSE theme Multi-scale, Multi-phenomena Theory, Modeling and Simulation at the Nanoscale, and is funded by the CMS, DMS and DMR divisions of the NSF.