The anisotropy and strain rate dependence of the mechanical response short-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics was studied using a straightforward micromechanical finite element analysis representative volume elements (RVEs). RVEs are created based on fiber orientation tensor, which quantifies processing-induced distribution. matrix is described by rate-dependent constitutive model (the Eindhoven g...

Bone is a hierarchically organized material, characterized by an astonishing variability and diversity. Bone replacement or biomaterials are critical components in artificial organs, and they are also used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. The aim of this thesis is the prediction of the strength of bone and bone replacement materials, from their composition and microstructure, by means of mul...

In this research, a modeling and experimental study was conducted to explore the effects of nanoparticle type (aluminum nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes), filler concentration and interactions between the nanoparticle and reinforcing fibers on through-thickness conductivity of nanoparticle/epoxy nanocomposites and nanoparticle/fiber-reinforced multiscale composites. Multiple, notable micromec...

Shale, like many other sedimentary rocks, is typically heterogeneous and anisotropic and is characterized by partial alignment of anisotropic clay minerals and naturally formed bedding planes. In this study, a micromechanical framework based on the lattice discrete particle model is formulated to capture these features. Material anisotropy is introduced through an approximated geometric descrip...

The electromechanical coupling factors (ηe’s) of capacitively-transduced micromechanical resonators have been increased by a factor of 8.1× via a process technology that utilizes atomic layer deposition (ALD) to partially fill the electrode-toresonator gaps of released resonators with high-k dielectric material and thereby achieve effective electrode-to-resonator gap spacings as small as 32 nm....

The mechanism of action of the Vacuum Assisted Closure Therapy (VAC; KCI, San Antonio, Texas), a recent novel innovation in the care of wounds, remains unknown. In vitro studies have revealed that cells allowed to stretch tend to divide and proliferate in the presence of soluble mitogens, whereas retracted cells remain quiescent. The authors hypothesize that application of micromechanical force...