Hoon-Hwe Cho

Tyrosine-mediated two-dimensional peptide assembly and its role as a bio-inspired catalytic scaffold

In two-dimensional interfacial assemblies, there is an interplay between molecular ordering and interface geometry, which determines the final morphology and order of entire systems. Here we present the interfacial phenomenon of spontaneous facet formation in a water droplet driven by designed peptide assembly. The identified peptides can flatten the rounded top of a hemispherical droplet into a plane by forming a macroscopic two-dimensional crystal structure. Such ordering is driven by the folding geometry of the peptide, interactions of tyrosine and crosslinked stabilization by cysteine. We discover the key sequence motifs and folding structures and study their sequence-specific assembly. The well-ordered, densely packed, redox-active tyrosine units in the YYACAYY (H-Tyr-Tyr-Ala-Cys-Ala-Tyr-Tyr-OH) film can trigger or enhance chemical/electrochemical reactions, and can potentially serve as a platform to fabricate a molecularly tunable, self-repairable, flat peptide or hybrid film.

Material properties of friction stir spot welded joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys

Abstract Mechanical properties and material mixing patterns of friction stir spot welded (FSSW) joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys were investigated. Two aluminum alloys typically used in automotive applications, 5052-H32 and 6061-T6, were selected. During the experiment, the process parameters including the z-axis force and torque histories were measured as a function of the tool displacement. The mechanical properties were investigated by microhardness measurements of the joint, and the material mixing in the stir zone was investigated by EPMA. The experimental results illustrate different process parameter histories, material mixing in the stir zone and material properties including microhardness distributions for FSSW joints of dissimilar aluminum alloys, likely due to different mechanical behaviors of the selected aluminum alloys in the FSSW process temperature range.

Study of architectural responses of 3D periodic cellular materials

The functional properties of periodic cellular solids such as photonic and phononic crystals, nanocrystal superlattices and foams may be tuned by an applied inhomogeneous mechanical strain. A fundamental methodology to analyse the structure of periodic cellular materials is presented here and is compared directly with indentation experiments on three-dimensional microframed polymer photonic crystals. The application of single-continuum-scale finite-element modelling (FEM) was impossible due to the numerous cells involved and the intricate continuum geometry within each cell. However, a method of dual-scale FEM was implemented to provide stress and displacement values on both scales by applying an upper scale continuum FEM with reference to the lower scale continuum FEM to provide coarse-grained stress?strain relationships. Architecture and orientation dependences of the periodic porous materials on the macro-/microscopic responses were investigated under different loading conditions. Our study revealed a computational tool for exploring elastic strain engineering of photonic crystals and, more broadly, may help the design of metamaterials with mechanical controllability.

Analysis of Transformation Plasticity in Steel Using a Finite Element Method Coupled with a Phase Field Model

An implicit finite element model was developed to analyze the deformation behavior of low carbon steel during phase transformation. The finite element model was coupled hierarchically with a phase field model that could simulate the kinetics and micro-structural evolution during the austenite-to-ferrite transformation of low carbon steel. Thermo-elastic-plastic constitutive equations for each phase were adopted to confirm the transformation plasticity due to the weaker phase yielding that was proposed by Greenwood and Johnson. From the simulations under various possible plastic properties of each phase, a more quantitative understanding of the origin of transformation plasticity was attempted by a comparison with the experimental observation.

Effect of Zr addition on phase transformation and precipitation in B-added hot stamping steel

The effect of Zr addition on phase transformation and precipitation in B-added hot stamping steels was investigated. First, a thermodynamic calculation was conducted to compare the thermodynamic stability of nitride precipitates for various nitride-forming elements. The equilibrium temperatures for phase transformation and nitride precipitation in B-added hot stamping steels containing Zr were also calculated. The phase transformation kinetics of B-added hot stamping steels with various Zr contents were evaluated by both dilatometry and metallography. It was verified that Zr addition can provide protection of the B-hardenability effect, which produce a fully martensitic microstructure after hot stamping. To confirm the existence of Zr precipitation in the hot stamping steels, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used. A large number of precipitates were observed in the form of (Ti, Zr)N. The effect of Zr addition in B-added hot stamping steel to provide effective B-protection resulting in an increase of hardenability was identified and discussed.

Friction stir spot welded joints of 409L stainless steels fabricated by a convex shoulder tool

Spot joints of ferritic 409L stainless steel are successfully fabricated by friction stir spot welding (FSSW) using a convex shoulder tool. The welding process, microstructure and failure of the FSSW joint are investigated experimentally. During the FSSW process, the Z-force history shows significant variations depending on the contact phenomena between the tool and the joined sheets, while the Z-torque history shows a rather steady increase without pronounced changes in the trend until the initiation of dwelling. Electron back-scatter diffraction suggests that both continuous dynamic recrystallization and recovery occurred in the stir zone during the FSSW process. Observation of the FSSW joint that failed under the given lap shear load shows that the cracks, which are the result of the interfaces between the upper and lower sheets, propagated into the weld along the interfacial surfaces, after which a necking/shear failure occurred. Finally, the rupture of the joint, which was initiated by the necking/shear failure, propagated along the circumference of the weld.

Three-Dimensional Numerical Model Considering Phase Transformation in Friction Stir Welding of Steel

A three-dimensional (3D) thermo-mechanical model is developed considering the phase transformation occurring during the friction stir welding (FSW) of steel, and the simulated result is compared with both the measured temperature distribution during FSW and the microstructural changes after FSW. The austenite grain size (AGS) decreases significantly because of the frictional heat and severe plastic deformation generated during FSW, and the decreased AGS accelerates the diffusional phase transformation during FSW. The ferrite phase, one of the diffusional phases, is developed mainly in mild steel, whereas the bainite phase transformation occurs significantly in high-strength steel with large hardenability. Additionally, transformation-induced heat is observed mainly in the stir zone during FSW. The measured temperature distribution and phase fraction agree fairly well with the predicted data.

Mechanical Behaviors of Friction Stir Spot Welded Joints of Dissimilar Ferrous Alloys under Opening-Dominant Combined Loads

Mechanical properties and failure behaviors of friction stir spot welded (FSSW) joints of two dissimilar ferrous alloys, cold-rolled carbon steel (SPCC) and 409L stainless steel (SUS 409L), are investigated under opening-dominant combined loads. The texture of dissimilar FSSW joints depends on the upper sheet material. The failure contours for the FSSW joints under combined loads are constructed in terms of the axial load and shear load by modifying existing failure criteria for resistance spot welds. The shape of the failure contour also depends on the upper sheet material. The failure contours are nearly elliptic in shape when the upper sheet is SPCC and are relatively straight lines when the upper sheet is SUS 409L.

Formation of Ultrafine Cellular Microstructure Around Alumina Particles in a Low-Carbon Steel

Ultrafine cellular microstructures around alumina particles in a low-carbon steel were observed, which survived even after cyclic austenitization. This indicates that their formation is closely related to internal stress because of a structural heterogeneity during phase transformation rather than to externally applied forces or deformation. Thermo-elasto-plastic finite element analysis confirmed the evolution of a large hydrostatic pressure around an alumina particle due to thermal mismatch during cooling. Therefore, the fine cellular microstructure might be generated as a result of the hydrostatic pressure, which retards the phase transformation around the particle during cooling. In addition, we observed microstructural similarity with the same steel processed under an ultra-high pressure, which was the evidence for the role of the delay in the transformation caused by the hydrostatic pressure.