CO2-induced dynamic covalent polymer networks (DCPNs) have received significant attention due to their capability of sequestering CO2 to remodel material properties. Despite the promising success of carbon sequestration in the polymer, the mechanistic understanding of the CO2-induced polymer network is still at the very beginning. A theoretical framework to understand the CO2-induced formation of bulk

The analogy between frictional cracks, propagating along interfaces in frictional contact, and ordinary cracks in bulk materials is important in various fields. We consider a stress-controlled frictional crack propagating at a velocity cr along an interface separating two strips, each of height H, the frictional counterpart of the classical problem of a displacement-controlled crack in a strip, which

A systematic numerical study using discrete dislocation dynamics has been conducted to investigate the formation of geometrically necessary dislocation boundaries (GNBs), a fundamental component of dislocation patterning and work-hardening. The simulations presented in this paper focus on GNBs forming along the (010) plane, which are observed in the 121111 copper orientation on the β-fibre of the FCC

Highly filled thermosets are widely used to encapsulate chips in the semiconductor packaging industry. A complete set of viscoelastic properties are required for package designs with optimum mechanical reliability. A novel test method, based on inert gas pressure, is proposed and implemented to measure the temperature-dependent viscoelastic hydrostatic creep compliance (or compressibility) of filled

The directors are randomly distributed in polydomain liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), which can be rearranged upon external loading. This can further lead to a polydomain-monodomain transition, accompanied by a change from an opaque state to a fully transparent state. Currently, the mechanical response and the related phase transition in polydomain LCEs are typically characterized in uniaxial loading

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a prominent technique for full-field, non-contact deformation characterization. Despite its sub-pixel sensitivity for displacement measurement, conventional DIC often suffers from inadequate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) when measuring small deformations in stiff and/or brittle materials. This work presents phase-augmented DIC (PA-DIC), a novel method that integrates

Nematic elastomers exhibit transversely isotropic semisoft elasticity due to the coupling of the liquid crystal mesogen and polymer network. Existing constitutive models are unable to simultaneously capture both the elastic anisotropy at small deformations and the semisoft stress plateau under large orthogonal loadings. Based on the decompositions of the strain energy and the deformation gradient,

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), as a unique class of smart soft materials combining the properties of liquid crystals and hyperelasticity, are capable of rapid, anisotropic, and reversible deformations in response to mechanical, thermal or optical stimuli. Here, we report a hitherto unknown stretching-induced twisting behavior of LCE bilayer strips. Under uniaxial stretching, we reveal that due to

To facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the electric breakdown of dielectric elastomers, we derive a one-dimensional (1d) model for axisymmetric necking in a dielectric membrane subjected to equibiaxial stretching and an electric field, starting from the three-dimensional (3d) nonlinear electroelasticity theory. Our reduction is built on the variational asymptotic method, so that

The mechanical behaviour of composites of liquid crystal inclusions embedded in soft matrices involves a complex interplay between the elasticity of the matrix, the surface elasticity of the interfaces, and the reorientation of the liquid crystal molecules. Directors of the (nematic) liquid crystal tend to be aligned in the bulk, but may ”anchor” along the interface. In addition, the interface deforms

Stretching-dominated lattice materials are renowned for their lightweight nature and exceptional mechanical properties. These materials, however, have historically struggled with scalability towards low relative densities at which they often exhibit unstable oscillation behavior. Here, we propose a viable solution to this issue by integrating hollow truss elements and a grid distribution into the conventional

When a soft elastic layer confined between two rigid substrates is subjected to tensile loads, the stressed layer exhibits various modes of elastic instability that influence its mechanical response. While previous studies have primarily focused on analyzing these instabilities under normal tension, this study systematically investigates the impact of combined tension–torsion loading on the emergence

Fiber-reinforced composite materials have gained considerable traction in various applications due to their exceptional properties, but the multicomponent nature makes their failure modes more complex, so the research of failure mechanism for composites is very important for the safety of the structure in use. In this work, a new unified anisotropic phase field model is proposed. Firstly, a new crack

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage. However, realizing their potential requires an understanding of their underlying coupled, multiphysics behaviors. In an effort to understand these complex interactions, the present paper develops and applies a finite-element phase-field model that represents coupled electro-chemo-mechanical behaviors in composite

Through an array of spatially distributed tendril pads, Parthenocissus tricuspidata adheres itself firmly to the surfaces of targets such as trees and walls. The tendril pads, which form unique and intriguing layouts, play a critical role in supporting plant organs. However, the relationship between their geometric forms and mechanical properties remains inadequately understood. In this paper, we combine

Through long-term evolution, biological tissues have optimized their components and structures at multiple length scales to meet the requirements of mechanical properties and biological functions. In this study, we explore how the shell macrostructure of nacre and its brick–mortar microstructure are synergistically designed to adapt to external mechanical conditions. We found that the T-stress effect

Numerous studies have indicated that spherical thin shells exhibit imperfection sensitivity under external pressure or top-indentation, which can greatly impair their loading strength and stability. In this paper, a surprising shift in buckling behavior is achieved for elastic thin shell by locally manipulating the annular imperfection of curvature on a sphere, which reverses the harmfulness wrought

In this work, the analytical and numerical analyses of the electromechanical buckling and postbuckling states of a planar film bonded to a compliant dielectric substrate are presented. The film is a stiff thin metal layer and forms an elastic electrode. The compliant substrate is attached to a bottom fixed and rigid electrode. The film is simultaneously subjected to in-plane compression stresses, which

Magnetic hydrogels have found broad applications in soft robotics and bioengineering, due to their facile actuation response and good biocompatibility. However, the actuation of magnetic hydrogels embedded with superparamagnetic nanoparticles remains challenging because of the low magnetization. In this work, we investigate the magnetothermal dehydration induced deformation of magnetic hydrogel-elastomer

Recent years have seen extensive research on advanced materials, including stimuli-responsive, renewable/degradable, multi-functional materials, and more, offering opportunities for advances in engineering technology. In general, these materials are expected to undergo chemical reactions during their service life. This work formulates a comprehensive thermodynamically consistent, frame-indifferent

The dynamic adhesion properties under different pulling speeds on rough substrates have potential value in practical applications. Our primary objective is to ascertain the influence of the pulling speed on the normal stress required for delamination when an infinite elastomer layer delaminates from a statistically random rough rigid substrate. We decouple the interface delamination velocity from the

Crack propagation in viscoelastic solids under cyclic loading is a fundamental problem underlying the fatigue fracture of elastomers. We present a continuum theory to determine the crack extension per loading cycle for various loading amplitudes, loading frequencies and viscoelastic properties. This is achieved by examining the energy dissipated through viscous effects and the energy available for

More attention has been paid to integrating existing knowledge with data to understand the complex mechanical behaviour of geomaterials, but it incurs scepticism and criticism on its generalizability and robustness. Moreover, a common mistake in current data-driven modelling frameworks is that history internal state variables and stress are known upfront and taken as inputs, which violates reality

In this paper, we present a dynamic homogenization model for elastic wave propagation analysis in piezoelectric composites with periodic electroelastic and viscoelectroelastic layers. The model is developed using a multiscale homogenization method based on an asymptotic expansion of displacement and electric potential up to the 8th order. By employing the formulation structure of gradient elasticity

Conventional curved crease origami exhibits only Euclidean metrics at the crease, where the surfaces on either side should consistently display convexity on one side and concavity on the other, unfavorably leading to restricted morphologies. Herein, we focus on a special type of origami: non-Euclidean curved crease origami. Additionally, we establish a morphomechanics framework that facilitates the

Electroactive gel (EAG), a smart material with tunable physical properties, has attracted increasingly more attention in various engineering fields. This paper presents the analytical solutions for the frictionless contact between a rigid spherical indenter and a block of constrained swollen EAG, which is also subject to a transverse electric field. The classical JKR model is extended to involve the

Understanding the interplay between plasticity and fracture is the basis for the prediction and design of materials and structures, which is controlled by the concurrent dynamics of discrete dislocations and cracks. However, till now, how to directly capture the co-evolution of a three-dimensional (3D) discrete dislocation network and arbitrary crack remains challenging due to their intrinsic complex

Cohesive zone models are powerful for capturing non-linear material failure. In contrast to classic bulk material models, they are based on so-called traction–separation-laws – relations connecting the stress vector acting at an interface (e.g., at the crack) to its energetically dual variable being the displacement jump (e.g., opening of the crack). A major drawback of cohesive zone models is that

Conventional magnetoelectric (ME) systems often suffer from the reduced conversion efficiency at low frequencies due to the low power input and relatively small ME coupling coefficient, constraining their applications in magnetic sensing and energy harvesting. In this work, we present a novel approach of utilizing the snap-through instability of soft ME materials to enhance their electric responses

This paper presents a 3D variational phase-field cohesive fracture model that incorporates crack direction information into the energy functional. Through an analytical homogenization procedure, the crack normal is obtained in closed form based on the principle of energy minimization. We find that, within the proposed model, several widely recognized crack direction criteria—including the minimum potential

The growth of plants is a hydromechanical phenomenon in which cells enlarge by absorbing water, while their walls expand and remodel under turgor-induced tension. In multicellular tissues, where cells are mechanically interconnected, morphogenesis results from the combined effect of local cell growths, which reflects the action of heterogeneous mechanical, physical, and chemical fields, each exerting

This paper examines the role of thermoelastic anisotropy on grain boundary cracking in brittle materials using a highly efficient computational framework. Energy release rates (ERRs) are computed for 35 materials spanning all seven crystal systems. Two crack geometries are considered: short interface cracks in isolated bicrystal plates, and cracked grain boundaries in polycrystal plates comprising

Most soft biological tissues feature distinct mechanical properties of viscoelasticity, which play a significant role in their growth, development, and morphogenesis. In this paper, we propose a mechanobiological viscoelastic model in the framework of thermodynamics. The multiscale mechanisms underlying the viscoelasticity of tissues are clarified, such as extracellular matrix composition and organization

The mechanical performance degradation of concrete in marine environments is often caused by multi-hazard, such as long-term environmental loads and short-term extreme loads, which also lead to more complex damage pattern. This study presents a thermal-mechanical coupling phase field meso‑scale model to simulate the damage evolution process of concrete subjected to rebar corrosion and fire hazards

A coupled finite plasticity ductile damage and failure model is proposed for the finite element simulation of clinch joining, which incorporates stress-state dependency and regularisation by gradient-enhancement of the damage variable. Ductile damage is determined based on a failure indicator governed by a failure surface in stress space. The latter is exemplary chosen as a combination of the Hosford–Coulomb

As epithelial tissues are ubiquitous and naturally exposed to mechanical strains at various rates in normal functioning, it is crucial to understand their rate-dependent mechanical response and fracture failure behaviors. In this study, we utilize the modified cell vertex model, which allows for cell–cell detachment transition (T4 transition), to perform uniaxial tensile tests on cell monolayers and

Structures capable of multiple stable configurations are increasingly attractive for applications in shape-morphing and adaptive systems. Among these, corrugated sheets are promising due to their ability to achieve different loading-position-dependent stable morphologies. In this work, the bistability of corrugated sheets is systematically investigated, where point loads at different positions can

Inertial amplification metastructure, known for its negative effective stiffness, exhibits excellent low-frequency vibration isolation, rendering it widely applicable in mechanical filters and elastic waveguides. However, research into their tunable dynamic characteristics, such as bandgaps, remains scarce. In this paper, we propose an inertial amplification metastructure with tunable dynamic characteristics

In this study, we present a continuous dynamics model for peristaltic rectilinear locomotion that accounts for three-dimensional deformation, inertia, friction, nonlinear constitutive profile, and strain waves. Using tensile tests and contact force measurements from earthworms, we derived the constitutive and anisotropic Coulomb's dry friction models. The developed dynamic model uniquely incorporates

We investigate uniaxial stress relaxation under constant strain using a recent hyperbolic model of nonlinear viscoelasticity based on the principles of Rational Extended Thermodynamics, as proposed in Ruggeri (2024). We determine the viscous dissipated energy such that the stress decays over time as a combination of exponential functions (Prony Series) with different relaxation times. We show that

Material nonlinearities such as hyperelasticity, viscoelasticity, and plasticity have recently emerged as design paradigms for metamaterials based on buckling. These metamaterials exhibit properties such as shape morphing, transition waves, and sequential deformation. In particular, plasticity has been used in the design of sequential metamaterials which combine high stiffness, strength, and dissipation

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are emerging actuating materials composed of polymer networks and liquid crystal mesogens. A plateau in the stress-strain curve of LCEs, typical of the semi-soft characteristics, is commonly observed. Although the classical semi-soft model based on compositional fluctuations intends to capture this feature, it does not accurately predict the stress plateau. Moreover

Fiber networks are essential functional materials, yet existing mechanical models only capture specific aspects of their mechanical properties. This paper proposes a general mechanical model for fiber networks based on pin-jointed bar assemblies. The topology and stress modes of the networks are generated through topology optimization. The model decouples and quantifies the contributions of entropy

In the field of damage modeling for ductile materials, numerous models have successfully addressed various fracture responses, as well as the need for robust algorithms and solutions to computational challenges. This study developed a damage model based on continuum damage mechanics. It addresses mesh regularization, a primary computational issue in macroscopic structural fracture analysis through

High-frequency micrometrical vibrations have been shown to greatly influence the adhesive performance of soft interfaces, however a detailed comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results is still missing. Here, the problem of a rigid spherical indenter, hung on a soft spring, that is unloaded from an adhesive viscoelastic vibrating substrate is considered. The experimental tests

In this paper, we introduce a comprehensive 3D finite-deformation constitutive model for shape memory polymers focused on addressing the Mullins effect when subjected to substantial elongation, reaching up to 200 % strain. Considering only four Maxwell branches with nonlinear viscous components integrated with the WLF equation, our modeling framework inherently ensures thermodynamic consistency without

For a typical adhesive contact problem, a rigid sphere initially adhered to a relaxed viscoelastic substrate is pulled away from the substrate at finite speeds, and the pull-off force is often found to depend on the rate of pulling. Despite significant theoretical advancements in this area, how the apparent adhesion enhancement is affected by the Maugis parameter and preload remains unclear, and existing

We investigate the influence of subsurface microstructure on the micromechanical and slip activity fields at the free surface on a polycrystalline Ni-based superalloy under deformation. The approach combines full-field crystal plasticity finite element simulations, high resolution three-dimensional electron back-scattered diffraction TriBeam technology, and high-fidelity mirroring of the microstructure

This study elucidates the fundamental governing mechanisms behind necking instability in granular materials, a phenomenon extensively documented in the literature yet lacking a clear explanation of its underlying causes. Our findings suggest that the phenomenon of tensile necking instability can be understood through the framework of anisotropic critical state theory, considering both local porosity

Plasticity is indispensable for wide-ranging structures as a protection mechanism against extreme loads. Tailoring elastoplastic behaviors such as stiffness, yield force, and energy dissipation to optimal states is therefore crucial for safety and economics. Recent studies have optimized either geometry or material phase for desired energy dissipating capacities; however, integrating both in design

A Weibull strength distribution pertinent to micro-grain structures can be measured for a polycrystalline ceramic after the influence of micro-cracks is sufficiently suppressed (or nearly all pre-existing processing defects are smaller than or much smaller than the average grain size). We outlined the conditions for measurements of this “intrinsic” micro-grain Weibull strength distribution, and showed

This work presents a unified large deformation constitutive framework that couples the phase-field approach for bulk fracture with the potential-based Park–Paulino–Roesler cohesive zone model (PPR CZM) to study crack propagation in multi-material systems that contain interfaces. The phase-field component captures crack initiation and propagation within bulk constituents, whereas the PPR CZM captures

The forming process often results in a highly heterogeneous mesoscale structure within composite structures, leading to enormous changes in mechanical properties. This complexity poses a significant challenge for accurately evaluating their mechanical behavior. In this paper, a concurrent multiscale analysis method considering the forming process is proposed to accurately analyze the mechanical behavior

Additive manufacturing methods together with topology optimization have enabled the creation of multiscale structures with controlled spatially-varying material microstructure. However, topology optimization or inverse design of such structures in the presence of nonlinearities remains a challenge due to the expense of computational homogenization methods and the complexity of differentiably parameterizing

A competition between short- and long-wavelength twist buckling instabilities has been reported in experiments on thin elastic ribbons having pre-strain concentrated in a rectangular region surrounding the axis. The wavelength of the twisting mode has been reported to either scale (i) as the width of the ribbon when the pre-strain is large (short-wavelength case) or (ii) as the length of the ribbon

A new cohesive phase-field (CPF) interface fracture model is proposed in this paper. It employs an exponential function for the interpolation of fracture energy between the bulk phase and the interface, and its effective interface fracture energy is solved based on the Euler–Lagrange equation of the phase-field theory and the consistency to the cohesive zone model (CZM) in the sharp interface concept

Fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior and fatigue life of additively manufactured (AM) materials are highly sensitive to AM-induced pore defects, thus challenging the traditional fatigue models. A model customized for predicting fatigue/fracture behavior of AM materials is indispensable. Here we propose a pore-defect informed phase-field model (PFM) for the macroscopic modeling of fatigue crack initiation

Polyvinylbutyral (PVB) is a polymer with sizeable viscoelastic dissipation at room temperature. It is often used in laminated glass to impart shock resistance to glazings. We have investigated adhesion rupture in glass/PVB interfaces in the through crack tensile test (TCT) geometry, representative of laminated glass rupture. We find that even though, in the high velocity range, interfacial rupture

High-strain rate deformation caused by microparticles impacting at high velocities is used to refine the microstructure of metallic materials to the nanocrystalline regime. Under these conditions, metallic targets and particles show a gradient distribution of nanograins, with size increasing away from the impact surface. Some of the mechanisms responsible for the refinement process are still not fully

This paper discusses the problem of macroscopic modeling a knitted technical fabric with the aim to determine a constitutive law for adequately modeling the material response under real-life load. As phenomenological, hyperelastic material laws reveal different parameters due to different test modalities used to identify such parameters, an optimization scheme is proposed to determine an objective