Enables readers to understand how contact mechanics techniques are used to establish the material properties of soft condensed matter
The application of contact mechanics methods to soft condensed matter, such as polymers and soft biological materials, is the main focus of this book. By understanding the fundamentals of contact mechanics methods, readers will be able to characterize the mechanical behavior of polymers, gels, and biological materials at the microscale and nanoscale.
To provide a thorough background to the subject, the first section of the book covers the background theory associated with elasticity, viscoelasticity, and poroelasticity, providing a complete foundation for extending concepts to small scale mechanics of soft solids. Following this, the authors present quasistatic and dynamic indentation methods in general before exploring various methods for contact experiments at the microscale and nanoscale and their practical considerations. Because a number of complementary non–contact techniques are also used for similar purposes, a section at the end of the book is devoted to alternative methods. This ensures that readers comprehend the subject of nanomechanics and micromechanics of soft condensed matter overall.
- Thoroughly covers methods in the emerging and interdisciplinary field of nanomechanics of soft materials
- Discusses and evaluates current experimental approaches for extracting the required mechanical properties from polymers and biomaterials
- Describes the theories of contact of soft deformable materials and how the materials properties depend on time and rate of deformation.
- Takes an advanced approach ideal for academic researchers, professionals and practitioners, as well as for graduate students with a mechanics of materials specialization
Authors
Mark R. VanLandingham , U. S. Army Research Laboratory, USA
Mark VanLandingham is Chief of the Materials Response and Design Branch at the U. S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground. He is responsible for funded research projects in contact mechanics of polymer fibers, nanomechanics of compliant biological and bio–inspired materials and fundamental development of polymer networks and gels and has recently spent Visiting Scientist periods at several institutions including MIT and Drexel University. He has contributed to numerous research papers and conference proceedings.
Krystyn J. Van Vliet, MIT, USA
Krystyn Van Vliet s laboratory group develops both experiments and computational simulations of nanoscale mechanical contact between interfaces, down to the level of atomic interactions. Her group s early work has developed new technology, science, and applications based on integrated, nanoscale experiments and simulations in this emerging interdisciplinary area. Van Vliet serves as the Director of the MIT Center for Scientific Investigation of Materials in Extreme Environments and of the Nanomechanical Technology Lab. She has also implemented new programs to retain underrepresented minority students in advanced materials research.
Y. T. Cheng, University of Kentucky, USA
As Professor of Materials Engineering in the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department at University of Kentucky, Professor Cheng participates in the NSF/UK IGERT Program on Engineered Bioactive Interfaces and Devices and the Kentucky–Argonne Battery Manufacturing R&D Center. He is Fellow of the American Physical Society and has published multiple highly–cited journal articles on a number of related topics.
Hongbing Lu, University of Texas at Dallas, USA
Hongbing Lu is Professor and Louis Beecherl, Jr., Chair in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to this he was based at University of North Texas, Denton and Oklahoma State University. He is an editorial board member on International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Multiscale Mechanics and Mechanics of Time–Dependent Materials and has written and published many book chapters.
