Non-Equilibrium and Non-Linear Structure and Dynamics of Soft Materials

技术摘要：材料通常以其线性性质为特征；例如，线性粘弹性测量是结构-性能关系的有力量度。然而，许多软材料表现出高度的非线性行为，这就需要一种从根本上不同的方式来研究这种行为。软材料的非平衡性和非线性性在技术应用中往往是特别重要的。同样，生物材料也经常受到非平衡行为的支配，因为大量的化学反应会燃烧能量来维持生命。这项研究将研究一类重要材料的非线性和非平衡行为，包括生物聚合物网络、复杂流体的凝胶和由微流控装置形成的结构材料。探索和描述这些性质的新方法将被开发出来。这项工作将与行业合作者密切相关，让学生和博士后获得宝贵的技术经验，并直接为国家的经济竞争力做出贡献。参与者将包括本科生、研究生和博士后，帮助培养国家的下一代科学家。所有参与者都将成为波士顿地区建立的充满活力和互动的研究社区的一部分。非技术摘要：表征材料的传统方法是在静态条件下测量其性质，在这种条件下，确定其对非常小的扰动的反应。这已被证明是材料科学的一个强有力的原理。然而，许多物质存在于更为极端的条件下。这项研究项目的目标是开发定性的新方法，在模拟材料在真实世界中的行为的条件下研究材料，在现实世界中，材料受到非常大的扰动。例如，将调查具有重要技术意义的材料的稳定性和老化。此外，还将探索为活细胞提供刚性的蛋白质网络的机制。这项工作将与行业合作者密切相关，让学生和博士后获得宝贵的技术经验，并直接为国家的经济竞争力做出贡献。参与者将包括本科生、研究生和博士后，帮助培养国家的下一代科学家。所有参与者都将成为波士顿地区建立的充满活力和互动的研究社区的一部分。

Technical Abstract:Materials are typically characterized by their linear properties; for example, linear viscoelastic measurements are a powerful measure of structure-property relationships. However, many soft materials exhibit highly non-linear behavior which necessitates a fundamentally different way of investigating the behavior. The non-equilibrium and non-linear properties of soft materials is often of particular importance in technological applications. Similarly, biological materials are also often dominated by non-equilibrium behavior due to the large number of chemical reactions that burn energy to sustain life. This research will investigate non-linear and non-equilibrium behavior of important classes of materials, including biopolymer networks, gels of complex fluids and structured materials formed with microfluidic devices. New methods to probe and describe these properties will be developed. The work will be closely coupled to industrial collaborators, allowing students and post docs to gain valuable experience with technology and to directly contribute to the country's economic competitiveness. The participants will include undergraduate and graduate students and post docs, helping to train the next generation of the country's scientists. All participants will become part of a vibrant and interactive research community that has been established in the Boston area.Non-technical abstract:A traditional means of characterizing a material is to measure its properties under quiescent conditions, where its response to a very small perturbation is determined. This has proven to be a powerful principle of material science. However, many materials exist under much more extreme conditions. The goal of this research project is to develop qualitatively new methods to study materials under conditions that mimic their behavior in the real world, where they are subjected to very large perturbations. For example, the stability and aging of technologically important materials will be investigated. In addition, the mechanics of the protein networks that provide rigidity to living cells will be explored. The work will be closely coupled to industrial collaborators, allowing students and post docs to gain valuable experience with technology and to directly contribute to the country's economic competitiveness. The participants will include undergraduate and graduate students and post docs, helping to train the next generation of the country's scientists. All participants will become part of a vibrant and interactive research community that has been established in the Boston area.