The recent application of nanotechnology to structural materials is a promising way to produce new strong materials that exceed current limitations. Grain-size refinement is considered as one of the most effective strengthening methods of materials. At the same time, the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a material is known to be more effective than conventional reinforcements. Here, CNT/C...

Ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) technology can produce structural materials with complex geometries and embedded sensors. Under UAM-processing conditions, interfaces are created between these due to high-strain rate (> 105 s−1) plastic deformation. Fundamental understanding of strengthening mechanisms at needed for engineering deployment. In this research, we correlated the interface mi...

In this paper, a type of compact nanosensor based on a metal-insulator-metal structure is proposed and investigated through cascading double asymmetric cavities, in which their metal cores shift along different axis directions. The cascaded asymmetric structure exhibits high transmission and sharp Fano resonance peaks via strengthening the mutual coupling of the cavities. The research results s...

Graphene is a single-atomic-layer material with excellent mechanical properties and has the potential to enhance the strength of composites. Its two-dimensional geometry, high intrinsic strength and modulus can effectively constrain dislocation motion, resulting in the significant strengthening of metals. Here we demonstrate a new material design in the form of a nanolayered composite consistin...