MULTISCALE MECHANICS OF BIOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES

The world of natural materials and structures provides an abundance of applications in which mechanics is a critical issue for our understanding of functional material properties. In particular, the mechanical properties of biological materials and structures play an important role in virtually all physiological processes and at all scales, from the molecular and nanoscale to the macroscale, linking research fields as diverse as genetics to structural mechanics in an approach referred to as materiomics. Example cases that illustrate the importance of mechanics in biology include mechanical support provided by materials like bone, the facilitation of locomotion capabilities by muscle and tendon, or the protection against environmental impact by materials as the skin or armors. In this article we review recent progress and case studies, relevant for a variety of applications that range from medicine to civil engineering. We demonstrate the importance of fundamental mechanistic insight at multiple time- and length-scales to arrive at a systematic understanding of materials and structures in biology, in the context of both physiological and disease states and for the development of de novo biomaterials. Three particularly intriguing issues that will be discussed here include： First, the capacity of biological systems to turn weakness to strength through the utilization of multiple structural levels within the universality-diversity paradigm. Second, material breakdown in extreme and disease conditions. And third, we review an example where the hierarchical design paradigm found in natural protein materials has been applied in the development of a novel hiomaterial based on amyloid protein.     

Competing mechanisms in the wear resistance behavior of biomineralized rod-like microstructures

The remarkable mechanical properties observed in biological composite materials relative to those of their individual constituents distinguish them from common engineering materials. Some naturally occurring high-performance ceramics, like the external veneer of the Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) tooth, have been shown to have superior hardness and impressive abrasion resistance properties. The mechanical performance of the chiton tooth has been attributed to a hierarchical arrangement of nanostructured magnetite rods surrounded with organic material. While nanoindentation tests provide useful information about the overall performance of this biological composite, understanding the key microstructural features and energy dissipation mechanisms at small scales remains a challenging task. We present a combined experimental/numerical approach to elucidate the role of material deformation in the rods, debonding at the rod interfaces and the influence of energy dissipation mechanisms on the ability of the microstructure to distribute damage under extreme loading conditions. We employ a 3D finite element-based micromechanical model to simulate the nanoindentation tests performed in geological magnetite and cross-sections of the chiton tooth. This proposed model is capable of capturing the inelastic deformation of the rods and the failure of their interfaces, while damage, fracture and fragmentation of the mineralized rods is assessed using a probabilistic function. Our results show that these natural materials achieve their abrasion resistant properties by controlling the interface strength between rods, alleviating the tensile stress on the rods near the indentation tip and therefore decreasing the probability of catastrophic failure without significantly sacrificing resistance to penetration. The understanding of these competing energy dissipating mechanisms provides a path to the prediction of new combination of materials. In turns, these results suggest certain guidelines for abrasion resistance rod-like microstructures in composites with high volume fraction of brittle minerals or ceramics with tailored performance for specific applications.     

基于仿真和数据驱动的先进结构材料设计

先进结构材料近年来受到材料和结构设计领域的广泛关注,这些材料一般通过多个尺度的结构设计实现各种卓越的性能.在早期的材料设计中,有的基于设计者的丰富经验,从天然拓扑结构中抽象出合理的数学力学模型;有的基于生物系统的结构和功能特点提取出仿生力学模型.然而,仅依靠经验性的巧妙设计很难得到最优的设计方案,通过反复迭代设计和试验...     

密集颗粒物质的介观结构

密集颗粒物质由大量颗粒组成的多体相互作用体系,在一定条件下,颗粒互相连接,形成相对稳定的介观尺度结构,其几何和动力学性质较大程度上决定了颗粒体系的宏观物理和力学性质,因此开展颗粒的介观结构研究具有重要的理论价值,是科学的前沿之一.自然界的堆石坝、堰塞体和碎屑流,以及工程中的高温气冷堆堆芯颗粒流和先进核裂变能系统(ADS嬗变)的颗粒散裂靶等都是典型的颗粒体系,研究颗粒体系宏观力学性质是灾害预测和调控技术的关键.本文首先介绍颗粒接触力理论和简化模型的研究进展,接着介绍介观尺度结构分析方法与测量技术,颗粒体系Jamming转变、软点和颗粒微位移测量技术等,最后列举了几个关键的科学问题.颗粒介质中很多基本力学问题的解决需要借鉴物理和数学等学科的最新成果,建立新的概念和范式,从新的角度、思路、理念去认识颗粒介质的基本问题.同时,颗粒介质的基础研究还要紧密结合工程应用领域的大量相关的核心技术,与工程领域专家共同合作,使得颗粒介质的研究有的放矢,更具生命力.     

The mesoscopic structures of dense granular materials

密集颗粒物质由大量颗粒组成的多体相互作用体系,在一定条件下,颗粒互相连接,形成相对稳定的介观尺度结构,其几何和动力学性质较大程度上决定了颗粒体系的宏观物理和力学性质,因此开展颗粒的介观结构研究具有重要的理论价值,是科学的前沿之一.自然界的堆石坝、堰塞体和碎屑流,以及工程中的高温气冷堆堆芯颗粒流和先进核裂变能系统（ADS嬗变）的颗粒散裂靶等都是典型的颗粒体系,研究颗粒体系宏观力学性质是灾害预测和调控技术的关键.本文首先介绍颗粒接触力理论和简化模型的研究进展,接着介绍介观尺度结构分析方法与测量技术,颗粒体系Jamming转变、软点和颗粒微位移测量技术等,最后列举了几个关键的科学问题.颗粒介质中很多基本力学问题的解决需要借鉴物理和数学等学科的最新成果,建立新的概念和范式,从新的角度、思路、理念去认识颗粒介质的基本问题.同时,颗粒介质的基础研究还要紧密结合工程应用领域的大量相关的核心技术,与工程领域专家共同合作,使得颗粒介质的研究有的放矢,更具生命力.     

Recent Applications of Moiré Interferometry

Moiré interferometry has been a valuable experimental technique for the understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials and structures. Over the last decade less emphasis has been placed on the development of the technique and more towards applications. This paper is a review article on recent applications using moiré interferometry in the fields of microelectronics devices, material characterization, micromechanics, residual stress, composite materials, fracture mechanics, and biomechanics. The general principles of moiré interferometry and advancement of techniques will not be discussed in this text, but references will be provided.     

针尖的分子生物物理力学研究进展

围绕包括扫描探针显微镜在内的各种探针技术下核酸、蛋白质等生物分子及生物材料的生物力学与力 - 电耦合实验研究, 较系统地总结了分子层次或纳米尺度下生物分子和材料的力学性能的扫描探针显微镜、光镊、磁镊等探针技术的实验研究方法和主要进展, 进而探讨了在``针尖'这个极小、极特殊环境下的分子生物物理力学研究状况.通过介绍借助探针技术研究相关生物物质的结构、力学、电学等性能以及提出的一些理论模型, 指出探针技术在生物分子（包括遗传物质和蛋白质）力学性能、纳米生物材料结构及分子仿生等研究中的广泛意义.提出多场耦合作用下的针尖的生物物理力学研究必定是将来研究的重点;将针尖的分子生物力学的物理实验研究与分子物理力学理论、计算科学相结合, 发展分子物理力学虚拟实验技术是本领域的一个重要发展方向.      

Review of boundary lubrication mechanisms of DLC coatings used in mechanical applications

In the last ten years significant progress has been made on development and understanding of diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC), which enabled them to become one of the most promising types of protective coatings for various mechanical applications. Their main advantages are low friction, good anti-wear properties, and adhesive protection. However, due to their low surface energy their reactivity with conventional oils and additives is limited, which makes achieving effective boundary lubrication a complex task. For a qualitative step-change that would improve the performance and allow effective optimizing and tailoring of these boundary-lubricated tribological systems, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of why, how, under which conditions, and with which materials and lubricants, the actual boundary lubrication is possible—if at all. The current results on boundary lubrication of DLC coatings are not many, and are due to the different types of coatings, lubricants and additives used in these studies, often difficult to compare and sometimes even contradictive. However, a recent great demand in different industries to apply the DLC coatings to lubricated systems requires a better understanding of these phenomena and overall performance. Therefore, if we wish to see a more effective continuation of the research and a better understanding of the scattered results, an overview of today’s state-of-the-art of lubricated DLC contacts is needed. In this paper we analyse the behaviors and suggested mechanisms from already-published studies and we summarize the present understanding of the boundary lubrication of DLC coatings. We focus on the DLC-lubricant interaction, thus we analyse only self-mated DLC/DLC contacts in order to avoid the inevitable effects from interactions with other counter materials such as steel.     

Crack deflection occurs by constrained microcracking in nacre

For decades, nacre has inspired researchers because of its sophisticated hierarchical structure and remarkable mechanical properties, especially its extreme fracture toughness compared with that of its predominant constituent, \(\hbox {CaCO}_{3}\), in the form of aragonite. Crack deflection has been extensively reported and regarded as the principal toughening mechanism for nacre. In this paper, our attention is focused on crack evolution in nacre under a quasi-static state. We use the notched three-point bending test of dehydrated nacre in situ in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to monitor the evolution of damage mechanisms ahead of the crack tip. The observations show that the crack deflection actually occurs by constrained microcracking. On the basis of our findings, a crack propagation model is proposed, which will contribute to uncovering the underlying mechanisms of nacre’s fracture toughness and its damage evolution. These investigations would be of great value to the design and synthesis of novel biomimetic materials.     

位错动力学方法在辐照损伤力学中的应用

核能是人类最理想的清洁能源之一,在世界能源结构中发挥着巨大作用。核裂变或核聚变导致的辐照环境会引起材料的辐照损伤,进而显著影响材料的力学性能,造成辐照硬化、脆化、蠕变、肿胀等现象。无论是预测辐照材料的服役寿命,还是设计新型的抗辐照材料,都迫切需要建立强辐照环境下的塑性力学和损伤力学理论。分子动力学方法为理解辐照材料中的原子级相互作用机理提供了诸多有价值的信息,然而受限于时空尺度难以直接用于力学理论模型的建立。晶体塑性有限元方法可用于预测辐照材料的力学响应,但是往往需要基于已知的物理模型,并且拟合实验数据。位错动力学方法是联系纳米力学与连续介质力学的桥梁,是揭示大量微结构的累积相互作用机理,建立基于物理机制的塑性力学和损伤力学理论的强有力手段。位错动力学方法起源于上个世纪八十年代,起初主要用于研究位错间的短程和长程相互作用、计算位错运动引起的塑性变形、硬化、软化、变形局部化等。本文将展示三种耦合位错动力学和辐照损伤场的方法,并系统地综述研究者近年来使用该方法在理解辐照硬化、塑性变形局部化、晶界效应、温度效应、和发展多尺度耦合方法等方面取得的进展。     

位错动力学方法在辐照损伤力学中的应用

核能是人类最理想的清洁能源之一,在世界能源结构中发挥着巨大作用。核裂变或核聚变导致的辐照环境会引起材料的辐照损伤,进而显著影响材料的力学性能,造成辐照硬化、脆化、蠕变、肿胀等现象。无论是预测辐照材料的服役寿命,还是设计新型的抗辐照材料,都迫切需要建立强辐照环境下的塑性力学和损伤力学理论。分子动力学方法为理解辐照材料中的原子级相互作用机理提供了诸多有价值的信息,然而受限于时空尺度难以直接用于力学理论模型的建立。晶体塑性有限元方法可用于预测辐照材料的力学响应,但是往往需要基于已知的物理模型,并且拟合实验数据。位错动力学方法是联系纳米力学与连续介质力学的桥梁,是揭示大量微结构的累积相互作用机理,建立基于物理机制的塑性力学和损伤力学理论的强有力手段。位错动力学方法起源于上个世纪八十年代,起初主要用于研究位错间的短程和长程相互作用、计算位错运动引起的塑性变形、硬化、软化、变形局部化等。本文将展示三种耦合位错动力学和辐照损伤场的方法,并系统地综述研究者近年来使用该方法在理解辐照硬化、塑性变形局部化、晶界效应、温度效应、和发展多尺度耦合方法等方面取得的进展。     

A mixed Von Mises distribution for modeling soft biological tissues with two distributed fiber properties

Constitutive modeling of biological tissues plays an important role in the understanding of tissue behavior and the development of synthetic materials for medical and bio-inspired applications. A structural continuum model that incorporates principal structural features of the tissue can potentially provide the link between microstructure and the macroscopic mechanical response of biological tissues. For most soft biological tissues, including arterial walls and skin tissue, the main load-carrying constituent is presumed to be the distributed collagen fibers embedded in a base matrix. It is believed that the organization of the collagen fibers gives rise to the anisotropy of the material. In this paper, a semi-structural constitutive model is proposed to account for planar fiber distributions with more than one distributed planar fiber property. Motivated by histology information of the wing membrane of the bat, a statistical treatment is formulated in this paper to capture the overall effect of the distribution of fiber cross-sectional area and the distribution of the number of fibers. This formulation is suitable for general cases when more than one fiber property varies spatially. Furthermore, this model is a two-dimensional specialization within the framework of a three-dimensional theory, which is different the formulation based on a fundamentally two-dimensional theory.     

人工智能在复合材料研究中的应用

复合材料以其轻质高强高模、可设计性强等优点成为结构轻量化的重要用材. 然而, 随着复合材料组分、结构以及性能需求的日益复杂化, 以实验观测、理论建模和数值模拟为主体的传统研究范式, 在复合材料力学性能分析、设计和制造等方面遇到了新的科学问题与技术瓶颈. 其中, 实验观测不足、理论模型缺乏、数值分析受限、结果验证困难等问题在一定程度上制约了先进复合材料在面向未来工程领域中应用的发展. 人工智能方法以数据驱动的模型替代传统研究中的数学力学模型, 直接由高维高通量数据建立变量间的复杂关系, 捕捉传统力学研究方法难以发现的规律, 在复杂系统的分析、预测、优化方面拥有与生俱来的优势. 而通过人工智能赋能来寻求复合材料中传统研究方法所面临难题的新的解决方案, 目前已成为复合材料研究领域的发展趋势. 本文综述并评价了人工智能方法在复合材料性能预测、优化设计、制造检测及健康监测等方面的研究进展, 并对未来发展方向进行了探讨和展望.      

A review of MEMS-based microscale and nanoscale tensile and bending testing

Thin films at the micrometer and submicrometer scales exhibit mechanical properties that are different than those of bulk polycrystals. Industrial application of these materials requires accurate mechanical characterization. Also, a fundamental understanding of the deformation processes at smaller length scales is required to exploit the size and interface effects to develop new and technologically attractive materials. Specimen fabrication, small-scale force and displacement generation, and high resolution in the measurements are generic challenges in microscale and nanoscale mechanical testing. In this paper, we review small-scale materials testing techniques with special focus on the application of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Small size and high force and displacement resolution make MEMS suitable for small-scale mechanical testing. We discuss the development of tensile and bending testing techniques using MEMS, along with the experimental results on nanoscale aluminum specimens.     

仿生叠层构型石墨烯对铝基复合材料的纳米摩擦性能的影响

利用纳米压痕和纳米划痕试验表征了仿生叠层构型铝基石墨烯复合材料(Bio-inspired laminated graphene reinforced aluminum martrix composite, BAMC)与纯铝的力学性能和摩擦磨损性能. 鉴于摩擦力由黏着作用和犁沟作用两分量共同组成,对比探究了BAMC与纯铝在微观摩擦磨损过程中的弹塑性转变过程,分析了黏着作用与犁沟作用在摩擦力中的贡献度,揭示了其微观摩擦磨损机制. 结果表明:相较于纯铝,BAMC的纳米硬度提高了约24%,总摩擦系数(Friction coefficient)降低了约28%,黏着作用分量和犁沟作用分量分别降低了32%和16%. 换言之,复合材料中的异质界面产生异质变形诱导强化,进而增强了应变硬化,使仿生叠层石墨烯铝基复合材料的硬度得到明显提升,并且仿生叠层构型的石墨烯主要通过降低黏着作用来实现减磨. 从微纳米尺度揭示了BAMC的力学性能和摩擦磨损性能显著提升的机理,可为提升其摩擦磨损性能提供理论依据. 目前的工作通过纳米划痕和纳米压痕强调了叠层结构石墨烯的添加对块体复合材料的摩擦性能的影响,并表明仿生叠层构型铝基石墨烯是搭建仿生叠层结构的小尺寸理想增强体.      

STRUCTURE AND THERMODYNAMICS OF GRANULAR MATERIALS

颗粒介质由大量离散的粗颗粒聚集而成,如自然界中的粗砂和碎屑堆积体等. 在工程实践中,人们依据经验和实验数据建立了许多模型,虽然可以满意地描述某些力学现象,但是对颗粒介质力学性质全貌的认识以及颗粒介质物理本质的理解仍远远不够. 颗粒介质长程无序、短程有序的结构和复杂的能量转化过程,注定了其独特的力学性质. 该文综述了颗粒介质结构探测和表征技术、热力学理论和固态-流态转变方面的新进展,特别介绍了清华大学近5 年来开展的颗粒介质结构模型化方法和双颗粒温度热力学理论. 最后,提出了开展结构分析-热力学理论的联合研究思路,以期更加深入认识颗粒介质的力学特性,探究颗粒介质的热力学根源,改善现有唯象研究现状.     

石墨烯力学性能研究进展

石墨烯是近年来发现的由单层碳原子通过共价键结合而成的具有规则六方对称的理想二维晶体, 是继富勒烯和碳纳米管之后的又一种新型低维碳材料. 由于具有非凡的电学、热学和力学性能以及广阔的应用前景, 石墨烯被认为是具有战略意义的新材料, 近年来迅速成为材料科学和凝聚态物理等领域最为活跃的研究前沿. 本文简要介绍了研究石墨烯力学性能的实验测试、数值模拟和理论分析方法, 重点综述了石墨烯力学性能的最新研究进展, 主要包括二维石墨烯的不平整性和稳定性, 石墨烯的杨氏模量、强度等基本力学性能参数的预测, 石墨烯力学性能的温度相关性和应变率相关性、原子尺度缺陷和掺杂等对力学性能的影响以及石墨烯在纳米增强复合材料和微纳电子器件等领域的应用, 最后对石墨烯材料与结构的力学研究进行了展望.      

感性材料与结构分析的基本模型

感性材料是一类基于植物仿生思想,利用化学能产生机械能的高能量密度智能材料.与植物感性运动类似,感性材料能够运用细胞半透膜,有选择、可控地将物质传输到体内产生定向变形.感性材料由基体材料中夹杂液体腔组成,液体腔周围有一层包含离子传输通道(离子泵、离子通道、离子协运机制等)的人工合成细胞膜.本文对感性材料的基本建模过程进行描述,建立了多感性驱动单元与结构相互作用的分析模型,并给出了计算结果.在感性单胞层次,通过对细胞膜离子传输过程以及结构力学模型进行耦合计算,再现感性运动中离子传输和基体结构的力学响应情况;通过改变各初始输入参数,研究不同参数对感性材料变形和响应过程的影响.     

压电/纤维复合材料耦合旋转驱动器力学设计模型

本文在经典层合板理论和三维压电材料本构方程的基础上,依据压电材料与纤维复合材料之间的相互作用、位移连续条件,建立了压电—纤维复合材料旋转耦合驱动器力学模型,并推导出电耦合方程。计算和初步实验说明,这种新型结构的压电伸缩变形—离轴纤维复合层扭转变形耦合旋转驱动器比同类型驱动器能量密度高、转矩大,且这种旋转电机结构简单紧凑、工作稳定、寿命长、预计随着研究的进一步深入,可望成为一种新型的微致驱动器而广泛应用于微型机械、精密测量和自动控制等领域。