Nima Rahbar

Mechanical properties of functionally graded hierarchical bamboo structures

This paper presents the results of a series of multi-scale experiments and numerical models concerning the mechanical properties of moso culm functionally graded bamboo structures. On the nano- and microscales, nanoindentation techniques are used to study the local variations in the Youngs moduli of moso culm bamboo cross-sections. These are then incorporated into finite element models in which the actual variations in Youngs moduli are used to model the deformation and fracture of bamboo during fracture toughness experiments. Similarly, the measured gradations in moduli are incorporated into crack bridging models that predict the toughening observed during resistance curve tests. The implications of the results are discussed for the bio-inspired design of structures that mimic the layered, functionally graded structure of bamboo.

Strong fiber-reinforced hydrogel☆

In biological hydrogels, the gel matrix is usually reinforced with micro- or nanofibers, and the resulting composite is tough and strong. In contrast, synthetic hydrogels are weak and brittle, although they are highly elastic. The are many potential applications for strong synthetic hydrogels in medical devices, including as scaffolds for tissue growth. This work describes a new class of hydrogel composites reinforced with elastic fibers, giving them a cartilage-like structure. A three-dimensional rapid prototyping technique was used to form crossed log-piles of elastic fibers that are then impregnated with an epoxy-based hydrogel in order to form the fiber-reinforced gel. The fibrous construct improves the strength, modulus and toughness of the hydrogel, and also constrains the swelling. By altering the construct geometry and studying the effect on mechanical properties, we will develop the understanding needed to design strong hydrogels for biomedical devices and soft machines.

Molecular Origin of Strength and Stiffness in Bamboo Fibrils

Bamboo, a fast-growing grass, has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel and concrete. The unique properties of bamboo come from the natural composite structure of fibers that consists mainly of cellulose microfibrils in a matrix of intertwined hemicellulose and lignin called lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC). Here, we have used atomistic simulations to study the mechanical properties of and adhesive interactions between the materials in bamboo fibers. With this aim, we have developed molecular models of lignin, hemicellulose and LCC structures to study the elastic moduli and the adhesion energies between these materials and cellulose microfibril faces. Good agreement was observed between the simulation results and experimental data. It was also shown that the hemicellulose model has stronger mechanical properties than lignin while lignin exhibits greater tendency to adhere to cellulose microfibrils. The study suggests that the abundance of hydrogen bonds in hemicellulose chains is responsible for improving the mechanical behavior of LCC. The strong van der Waals forces between lignin molecules and cellulose microfibril is responsible for higher adhesion energy between LCC and cellulose microfibrils. We also found out that the amorphous regions of cellulose microfibrils are the weakest interfaces in bamboo fibrils. Hence, they determine the fibril strength.

Bio-inspired design of dental multilayers: Experiments and model

This paper combines experiments, simulations and analytical modeling that are inspired by the stress reductions associated with the functionally graded structures of the dentin-enamel-junctions (DEJs) in natural teeth. Unlike conventional crown structures in which ceramic crowns are bonded to the bottom layer with an adhesive layer, real teeth do not have a distinct adhesive layer between the enamel and the dentin layers. Instead, there is a graded transition from enamel to dentin within a approximately 10 to 100 microm thick regime that is called the Dentin Enamel Junction (DEJ). In this paper, a micro-scale, bio-inspired functionally graded structure is used to bond the top ceramic layer (zirconia) to a dentin-like ceramic-filled polymer substrate. The bio-inspired functionally graded material (FGM) is shown to exhibit higher critical loads over a wide range of loading rates. The measured critical loads are predicted using a rate dependent slow crack growth (RDEASCG) model. The implications of the results are then discussed for the design of bio-inspired dental multilayers.

Toughening mechanisms in bioinspired multilayered materials

Outstanding mechanical properties of biological multilayered materials are strongly influenced by nanoscale features in their structure. In this study, mechanical behaviour and toughening mechanisms of abalone nacre-inspired multilayered materials are explored. In nacres structure, the organic matrix, pillars and the roughness of the aragonite platelets play important roles in its overall mechanical performance. A micromechanical model for multilayered biological materials is proposed to simulate their mechanical deformation and toughening mechanisms. The fundamental hypothesis of the model is the inclusion of nanoscale pillars with near theoretical strength (σth ~ E/30). It is also assumed that pillars and asperities confine the organic matrix to the proximity of the platelets, and, hence, increase their stiffness, since it has been previously shown that the organic matrix behaves more stiffly in the proximity of mineral platelets. The modelling results are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data for abalone nacre. The results demonstrate that the aragonite platelets, pillars and organic matrix synergistically affect the stiffness of nacre, and the pillars significantly contribute to the mechanical performance of nacre. It is also shown that the roughness induced interactions between the organic matrix and aragonite platelet, represented in the model by asperity elements, play a key role in strength and toughness of abalone nacre. The highly nonlinear behaviour of the proposed multilayered material is the result of distributed deformation in the nacre-like structure due to the existence of nano-asperities and nanopillars with near theoretical strength. Finally, tensile toughness is studied as a function of the components in the microstructure of nacre.

An investigation of adhesion in drug-eluting stent layers

An atomic force microscopy (AFM) method was developed to quantify the adhesion forces between and cohesive forces within the layers of a drug-eluting stent (DES). Surface pairs representing both the individual components and the complete chemistry of each layer within the DES were prepared. As a model, the CYPHER Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent was studied. This DES consists of a stainless steel stent substrate, a parylene C primer layer, and a drug-eluting layer that contains poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate), and sirolimus (rapamycin). Coated AFM tips and two-dimensional substrates or coupons, which act as surrogates to the CYPHER Stent, were prepared and characterized. The force-displacement measurements were conducted to evaluate the adhesion between the middle parylene C layer and the 316L stainless steel substrate, the adhesion between the parylene C layer and the outer drug-eluting layer, and the cohesion between the three constituents of the drug-eluting layer. The average adhesion forces between the parylene C to drug layer varied from 88 to 167 nN, and the drug layer-to-drug layer interactions were between 194 and 486 nN within the model CYPHER Stent coating. All the adhesion forces measured were larger than those observed for gold-gold interactions, which yielded a pull of force of 19 nN (Zong et al., J Appl Phys 2006;100:104313-104323).

Adhesion and interfacial fracture toughness between hard and soft materials

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study of adhesion between hard and soft layers that are relevant to medical devices such as drug-eluting stents and semiconductor applications. Brazil disk specimens were used to measure the interfacial fracture energies between model parylene C and 316L stainless steel over a wide range of mode mixities. The trends in the overall fracture energies are predicted using a combination of adhesion theories and fracture mechanics concepts. The measured interfacial fracture energies are shown to be in good agreement with the predictions.

Bio-inspired dental multilayers: effects of layer architecture on the contact-induced deformation.

The ceramic crown structures under occlusal contact are idealized as flat multilayered structures that are deformed under Hertzian contact loading. Those multilayers consist of a crown-like ceramic top layer, an adhesive layer and the dentin-like substrate. Bio-inspired design of the adhesive layer proposed functionally graded multilayers (FGM) that mimic the dentin-enamel junction in natural teeth. This paper examines the effects of FGM layer architecture on the contact-induced deformation of bio-inspired dental multilayers. Finite element modeling was used to explore the effects of thickness and architecture on the contact-induced stresses that are induced in bio-inspired dental multilayers. A layered nanocomposite structure was then fabricated by the sequential rolling of micro-scale nanocomposite materials with local moduli that increase from the side near the soft dentin-like polymer composite foundation to the side near the top ceramic layer. The loading rate dependence of the critical failure loads is shown to be well predicted by a slow crack growth model, which integrates the actual mechanical properties that are obtained from nanoindentation experiments.

Bioinspired design of dental multilayers

This paper considers the use of bioinspired functionally graded structures in the design of dental multi-layers that are more resistant to sub-surface crack nucleation. Unlike existing dental crown restorations that give rise to high stress concentration, the functionally graded layers (between crown materials and the joins that attach them to dentin) are shown to promote significant reductions in stress and improvements in the critical crack size. Special inspiration is drawn from the low stress concentrations associated with the graded distributions in the dentin-enamel-junction (DEJ). The implications of such functionally graded structures are also discussed for the design of dental restorations.

A fatigue driving stress approach to damage and life prediction under variable amplitude loading

A fatigue driving stress that causes fatigue damage is presented and used to predict residual fatigue life under variable loading. This fatigue driving stress is a function of the applied cyclic stress (σ), number of loading cycles (n), and the number of cycles to failure (N). It increases with loading cycles until the fatigue strength is reached when fracture occurs. By determining the equivalent number of cycles or life fraction at current load that yields the same fatigue driving stress as the previous loads, the remaining life can be predicted. A new damage model is derived as a function of expended life fraction of applied load, the logarithm life of applied load and the logarithm life of the initial applied load. The derived cumulative damage model indicates that ∑ n i N i > 1 for low-to-high loading sequence, and ∑ n i N i < 1 , for high-to-low loading. In the case of constant amplitude loading, however, ∑ n i N i = 1 . Life predictions from the present damage model and the Miner model are compared with experimental results from literature. The comparison shows that the present model presents a good estimation of the experimental data. Furthermore life prediction using the present model is found to give better agreement with experimental data than the popular Miner model.