On the influence of interfacial properties to the bending rigidity of layered structures

Layered structures are ubiquitous, from one-atom thick layers in two-dimensional materials, to nanoscale lipid bi-layers, and to micro and millimeter thick layers in composites. The mechanical behavior of layered structures heavily depends on the interfacial properties and is of great interest in engineering practice. In this work, we give an analytical solution of the bending rigidity of bilayered structures as a function of the interfacial shear strength. Our results show that while the critical bending stiffness when the interface starts to slide plastically is proportional to the interfacial shear strength, there is a strong nonlinearity between the rigidity and the applied bending after interfacial plastic shearing. We further give semi-analytical solutions to the bending of bilayers when both interfacial shearing and pre-existing crack are present in the interface of rectangular and circular bilayers. The analytical solutions are validated by using finite element simulations. Our analysis suggests that interfacial shearing resistance, interfacial stiffness and preexisting cracks dramatically influence the bending rigidity of bilayers. The results can be utilized to understand the significant stiffness difference in typical biostructures and novel materials, and may also be used for non-destructive detection of interfacial crack in composites when stiffness can be probed through vibration techniques.     

Effects of interfacial properties on the ductility of polymer-supported metal films for flexible electronics

Polymer-supported metal films as interconnects for flexible, large area electronics may rupture when they are stretched, and the rupture strain is strongly dependent upon the film/substrate interfacial properties. This paper investigates the influence of interfacial properties on the ductility of polymer-supported metal films by modeling the microstructure of the metal film as well as the film/substrate interface using the method of finite elements and the cohesive zone model (CZM). The influence of various system parameters including substrate thickness, Young’s modulus of substrate material, film/substrate interfacial stiffness, strength and interfacial fracture energy on the ductility of polymer-supported metal films is systematically studied. Obtained results demonstrate that the ductility of polymer-supported metal films increases as the interfacial strength increases, but the increasing trend is affected distinctly by the interfacial stiffness.     

Transient swelling-induced finite bending of hydrogel-based bilayers: analytical and FEM approaches

Hydrogels with their time-dependent intrinsic behaviors have recently been used widely in soft structures as sensors/actuators. One of the most interesting structures is the bilayer made up of hydrogels which may undergo swelling-induced bending. In this work, by proposing a semi-analytical method, the transient bending of hydrogel-based bilayers is investigated. Utilizing nonlinear solid mechanics, a robust semi-analytical solution is developed which captures the transient finite bending of hydrogel-based bilayers. Moreover, the multiphysics model of the hydrogels is implemented in the finite element method (FEM) framework to verify the developed semi-analytical procedure results. The effects of different material properties are investigated to illustrate the nonlinear behavior of these structures. The von-Mises stress contour extracted from FEM shows that the critical area of these soft structures is at the interface of the layers which experiences the maximum stress, and this area is most likely to rupture in large deformations.     

Mechanics of nonbuckling interconnects with prestrain for stretchable electronics

The performance of the flexibility and stretchability of flexible electronics depends on the mechanical structure design, for which a great progress has been made in past years. The use of prestrain in the substrate, causing the compression of the transferred interconnects, can provide high elastic stretchability. Recently, the nonbuckling interconnects have been designed, where thick bar replaces thin ribbon layout to yield scissor-like in-plane deformation instead of in-or out-of-plane buckling modes. The nonbuckling interconnect design achieves significantly enhanced stretchability. However,combined use of prestrain and nonbuckling interconnects has not been explored. This paper aims to study the mechanical behavior of nonbuckling interconnects bonded to the prestrained substrate analytically and numerically. It is found that larger prestrain,longer straight segment, and smaller arc radius yield smaller strain in the interconnects.On the other hand, larger prestrain can also cause larger strain in the interconnects after releasing the prestrain. Therefore, the optimization of the prestrain needs to be found to achieve favorable stretchability.     

Influence of imperfect bonding on the reflection and transmission of QP-wave at the interface of two functionally graded piezoelectric materials

This paper studies the reflection and transmission of two dimensional quasi P wave incident at an imperfect interface between two dissimilar Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Materials (FGPM) half-spaces. The imperfect bonding behavior between the two considered half-spaces is described by the interfacial imperfections. The imperfection is characterized by the normal stiffness and tangential stiffness using the linear spring model. These interface parameters (i.e normal stiffness and tangential stiffness) are dependent on the elastic properties of interphase. Secular equations have been derived analytically for both the half-spaces. Different cases of imperfect interfaces namely perfect interface, slip interface, weak bonding interface and unbounded interface have been assumed and discussed. Influence of material gradients on the reflection and transmission coefficients (RTC’s) have been inflicted graphically for all the four considered interface conditions. Further, a comparative study of the RTC’s with respect to the incident angle has been carried out for the different cases of imperfections. The obtained results may be useful for measuring imperfection at the interface and designing of SAW devices.     

Stretchability and compliance of freestanding serpentine-shaped ribbons

High-performance stretchable electronics have to utilize high-quality inorganic electronic materials such as silicon, oxide or nitride dielectrics, and metals. These inorganic materials usually crack or yield at very small intrinsic strains, for example, 1%, whereas bio-integrated electronics are expected to at least match the stretchability of bio-tissues (20%) and deployable structure health monitoring networks are expected to expand from wafer scale (several centimeters) to cover macroscopic structures (several meters). To minimize strains in inorganic materials under large deformation, metallic and ceramic films can be patterned into serpentine-shaped ribbons. When the ribbon is stretched, some sections of the ribbon can rotate and/or buckle to accommodate the applied displacement, leaving much smaller intrinsic strain in the materials compared to the applied strain. The choice of the shape of the serpentine depends on systematic studies of the geometric variables. This paper investigates the effect of serpentine shapes on their stretchability and compliance through theoretical, numerical, and experimental means. Our closed-form curved beam solutions, FEM results, and experimental measurements have found good agreement with one another. Our results conclude that in general, the narrower ribbon, the larger arc radius and arc angle, and the longer arm length will yield lower intrinsic strain and effective stiffness. When the arm length approaches infinite, the stretchability can be enhanced by several orders. A few unexpected behaviors are found at arc angles that are close to straight bars. With additional practical constraints such as minimum ribbon width and finite overall breadth, the optimal serpentine shape can be accurately determined using our closed-form analytical solution.     

An Asymptotic Study¶of the Debonding of Thin Films

We examine the asymptotic behavior of a bilayer thin film using the notion of Γ-convergence. We allow for debonding at the interface, but penalize it using an interfacial energy; thus the functional we consider consists of the elastic energy of the two layers and the interfacial energy with penalized debonding. We show that the asymptotic theory or Γ-limit depends on the particular form of the interfacial energy, and derive detailed results for both the cohesive and the brittle interface.     

Dynamic rupture of polymer–metal bilayer plates

Recent theoretical assessments of metal/polymer bilayers indicate a potentially significant delay in the onset of ductile failure modes, especially under dynamic loading, due to strain hardening of the polymer. The response of copper/polyurethane bilayers under dynamic and quasi-static loadings is investigated via static tensile, static bulge forming and dynamic bulge forming tests. Two polyurethanes PU1 and PU2 were chosen with a significant contrast in stiffness and ductility: PU1 has a glass transition temperature T_g close to ?56 °C and at room temperature it has a low modulus, low strength and a high tensile failure strain. In contrast, PU2 has a T_g of 49 °C and at room temperature it has a high modulus and strength but a much smaller tensile failure strain. In most of the tests, the polymer coatings were approximately twice the thickness of the metal layer. Under static loadings (tensile and bulge forming) the PU2 bilayer outperformed the uncoated metal plate of equal mass while the PU1 bilayer had a performance inferior to the equivalent uncoated plate. We attribute this to the fact that the PU2 retards the necking of the copper layer and thus increases its energy absorption capacity while the PU1 coating provides no such synergistic effect. The dynamic bulge forming tests indicate that on an equal mass basis, the dynamic performance of the PU2 bilayers with a weakly bonded polymer coating were comparable to the uncoated plates but intriguingly, when the PU2 was strongly adhered to the copper plates the performance of these bilayers was inferior to that of the uncoated plates. Thus, the coatings do not provide dynamic performance benefits on an equal mass basis. However, it is shown that increasing the mass of a plate by adding a polyurethane layer can improve the performance for a given total blast impulse. Given the ease of applying polyurethane coatings they may provide a practical solution to enhancing the blast resistance of existing metallic structures.     

Controlled buckling of thin film on elastomeric substrate in large deformation

Electronic systems with large stretchability have many applications. A precisely controlled buckling strategy to increase the stretchability has been demonstrated by combining lithographically patterned surface bonding chemistry and a buckling process. The buckled geometry was assumed to have a sinusoidal form, which may result in errors to determine the strains in the film. A theoretical model is presented in this letter to study the mechanics of this type of thin film/substrate system by discarding the assumption of sinusoidal buckling geometry. It is shown that the previous model overestimates the deflection and curvature in the thin film. The results from the model agree well with finite element simulations and therefore provide design guidelines in many applications ranging from stretchable electronics to micro/nano scale surface patterning and precision metrology.     

Neck development in metal/elastomer bilayers under dynamic stretchings

Dynamic stretching of bilayer plates comprised of an elastomer layer bonded to a metal layer is studied with emphasis on neck development under plane strain. Neck retardation and multiple necks in the metal layer are promoted by the elastomer layer under quasi-static conditions and also by inertia in the all-metal layer under dynamic stretching. The present study explores the interaction of these two effects under the assumption that ductility is unlimited. The study reveals the roles of the elastomer modulus, the metal strength and the rate of stretching in giving rise to necking retardation.     

Post-buckling analysis for the precisely controlled buckling of thin film encapsulated by elastomeric substrates

The precisely controlled buckling of stiff thin films (e.g., Si or GaAs nano ribbons) on the patterned surface of elastomeric substrate (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) with periodic inactivated and activated regions was designed by Sun et al. [Sun, Y., Choi, W.M., Jiang, H., Huang, Y.Y., Rogers, J.A., 2006. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nature Nanotechnology 1, 201–207] for important applications of stretchable electronics. We have developed a post-buckling model based on the energy method for the precisely controlled buckling to study the system stretchability. The results agree with Sun et al.’s (2006) experiments without any parameter fitting, and the system can reach 120% stretchability.     

纤维增强橡胶复合材料界面力学性能有限元分析

基于剪滞理论,引入双线性内聚力模型研究了纤维与基体界面应力传递机理．采用ABAQUS模拟了非理想界面在单纤维拔出过程中的脱粘失效,分析了不同脱粘阶段界面剪应力分布情况,以及界面刚度和纤维长径比对界面应力传递和拔出载荷的影响规律．结果表明,在纤维受载失效过程中,纤维的拔出过程可分为4个阶段,即界面的完全粘结、损伤演化、逐渐脱粘、完全脱粘．界面的刚度和纤维长径比对界面应力传递与最大拔出力均有一定的影响．界面刚度、纤维长径比主要影响纤维的最大拔出载荷以及界面脱粘失效位移．     

Reprint of “Post-buckling analysis for the precisely controlled buckling of thin film encapsulated by elastomeric substrates” [In. J. Solids Struct. 45 (2008) 2014–2023]

The precisely controlled buckling of stiff thin films (e.g., Si or GaAs nano ribbons) on the patterned surface of elastomeric substrate (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) with periodic inactivated and activated regions was designed by Sun et al. [Sun, Y., Choi, W.M., Jiang, H., Huang, Y.Y., Rogers, J.A., 2006. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nature Nanotechnology 1, 201–207] for important applications of stretchable electronics. We have developed a post-buckling model based on the energy method for the precisely controlled buckling to study the system stretchability. The results agree with Sun et al.’s (2006) experiments without any parameter fitting, and the system can reach 120% stretchability.     

A theory of plasticity for carbon nanotube reinforced composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess exceptional mechanical properties, and when introduced into a metal matrix, it could significantly improve the elastic stiffness and plastic strength of the nanocomposite. But current processing techniques often lead to an agglomerated state for the CNTs, and the pristine CNT surface may not be able to fully transfer the load at the interface. These two conditions could have a significant impact on its strengthening capability. In this article we develop a two-scale micromechanical model to analyze the effect of CNT agglomeration and interface condition on the plastic strength of CNT/metal composites. The large scale involves the CNT-free matrix and the clustered CNT/matrix inclusions, and the small scale addresses the property of these clustered inclusions, each containing the randomly oriented, transversely isotropic CNTs and the matrix. In this development the concept of secant moduli and a field fluctuation technique have been adopted. The outcome is an explicit set of formulae that allows one to calculate the overall stress-strain relations of the CNT nanocomposite. It is shown that CNTs are indeed a very effective strengthening agent, but CNT agglomeration and imperfect interface condition can seriously reduce the effective stiffness and elastoplastic strength. The developed theory has also been applied to examine the size (diameter) effect of CNTs on the elastic and elastoplastic response of the composites, and it was found that, with a perfect interface contact, decreasing the CNT radius would enhance the overall stiffness and plastic strength, but with an imperfect interface the size effect is reversed. A comparison of the theory with some experiments on the CNT/Cu nanocomposite serves to verify the applicability of the theory, and it also points to the urgent need of eliminating all CNT agglomeration and improving the interface condition if the full potential of CNT reinforcement is to be realized.     

MECHANICS ANALYSIS OF TWO-DIMENSIONALLY PRESTRAINED ELASTOMERIC THIN FILM FOR STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS

Various methods have been developed to fabricate highly stretchable electronics. Recent studies show that over 100% two dimensional stretchability can be achieved by mesh structure of brittle functioning devices interconnected with serpentine bridges. Kim et al show that pressing down an inflated elastomeric thin film during transfer printing introduces two di- mensional prestrain, and therefore further improves the system stretchability. This paper gives a theoretical study of this process, through both analytical and numerical approaches. Simple analytical solutions are obtained for meridional and circumferential strains in the thin film, as well as the maximum strain in device islands, which all agree reasonably well with finite element analysis.     

Rheology and morphology of multilayer reactive polymers: effect of interfacial area in interdiffusion/reaction phenomena

The rheological behavior of multilayered reactive polymers was investigated. Dynamic mechanical experiments were performed to probe the effect of the interfacial area on the rheological behavior of a multilayered structure as compared to that of a droplet-type morphology. Polyamide (PA6)/polyethylene grafted with glycidyl methacrylate was used as a model system, and in the molten state, such a system generated a reaction between amine, carboxylic, and epoxy groups. Multilayer structures containing various amounts of both interfacial area and volume fractions of the two components were studied. Relationships between viscoelastic material functions and compositions were used to analyze the effects of bulk and reactive functions in the polyolefin phase at the interface with PA. The contribution of the interface/interphase effect was investigated along with the increase in the number of layers, and the results showed that the variation in dynamic modulus of the multilayer system was a result of both diffusion and chemical reaction. Specific experiments were carried out to separate the thermodynamic effects from the kinetic ones, and the results were rationalized by comparing the obtained data with theoretical models. Finally, the effect of the interface/interphase triggered between the neighboring layers was quantified at a specific welding time and shear rate.     

Reflection and transmission of plane waves at an imperfectly bonded interface between piezoelectric and piezomagnetic media

The paper analyzes the reflection and transmission of plane waves at an imperfect interface between piezoelectric (PE) and piezomagnetic (PM) media. The materials are assumed to be transversely isotropic. The linear spring model is used to describe the imperfection of bonding behavior at the interface. According to this model, the properties of the interface can be characterized by the normal and tangential interfacial stiffnesses. Numerial examples are performed for BaTiO₃/CoFe₂O₄ material combination. Four cases, a perfect, slip, normal weak bonding and unbonding interfaces for the coupled quasi-pressure (QP) wave incidence from BaTiO₃ medium are compared in detail. Numerical results of the reflection and transmission coefficients (RTCs) varying with incident angle for different interfacial stiffnesses are presented. Results show that the transmitted QP/reflected QSV waves are the strongest in the perfect/unbonded cases, respectively. The scattered waves in the slip and normal weak bonding cases are between those of the perfect and unbonded cases generally. Critial angles have noticeable effect on the RTCs and energy coefficients for the coupled scattered waves of the perfect and slip cases but have a little/no effect on those of the normal weak bonding/unbonded cases. It is found that the sum of the energy carried by the transmitted/reflected QP and QSV waves is less than unit for the imperfect bonding between BaTiO₃/CoFe₂O₄ solids. These results may provide some useful reference datum for the imperfection measurment at the PE and PM interface.     

Laser-induced porous graphene on Polyimide/PDMS composites and its kirigami-inspired strain sensor

The laser-induced porous graphene(LIG) prepared in a straightforward fabrication method is presented,and its applications in stretchable strain sensors to detect the applied strain are also explored. The LIG formed on the polyimide/polydimethylsiloxane(PI/PDMS) composite exhibits a naturally high stretchability(over 30%), bypassing the transfer printing process compared to the one prepared by laser scribing on PI films. The PI/PDMS composite with LIG shows tunable mechanical and electronic performances with different PI particle concentrations in PDMS. The good cyclic stability and almost linear response of the prepared LIG's resistance with respect to tensile strain provide its access to wearable electronics. To improve the PDMS/PI composite stretchability, we designed and optimized a kirigami-inspired strain sensor with LIG on the top surface, dramatically increasing the maximum strain value that in linear response to applied strain from 3% to 79%.     

Deformability of thin metal films on elastomer substrates

Recent applications in flexible electronics require that thin metal films grown on elastomer substrates be deformable. However, how such laminates deform is poorly understood. While a freestanding metal film subject to tension will rupture at a small strain by undergoing a necking instability, we anticipate that a substrate will retard this instability to an extent that depends on the relative stiffness and thickness of the film and the substrate. Using a combination of a bifurcation analysis and finite element simulations, we identify three modes of tensile deformation. On a compliant elastomer, a metal film forms a neck and ruptures at a small strain close to that of a freestanding film. On a stiff elastomer, the metal film deforms uniformly to large strains. On an elastomer of intermediate compliance, the metal film forms multiple necks, deforms much beyond the initial bifurcation, and ruptures at a large strain. Our theoretical predictions call for new experiments.     

On micromechanical-statistical modeling of microscopically damaged interfaces under antiplane deformations

A microscopically damaged interface between two elastic half-spaces under anti-plane deformations is modeled using randomly distributed interfacial micro-cracks. The micro-crack length is a continuous random variable following a given probability distribution. The micromechanical-statistical model of the interface, formulated and solved in terms of hypersingular integral equations, is used to estimate the effective stiffness of the interface. The number of micro-cracks per period length of the interface required to homogenize the effective interface stiffness is examined. Also investigated are the effects of the micro-crack length and the crack-tip gap between two neighboring micro-cracks on the effective stiffness.