Séminaire SIMM : Catalin R. Picu (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY)

Mechanics of Stochastic Fibrous Materials : from Structure to Performance

Catalin R. Picu
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180

Abstract
Random fiber networks are present in many biological and man-made materials. Examples from the living world include the cellular cytoskeleton and various types of connective tissue. Examples from the non-living world include paper, rubber, gels, insulation and hygiene consumer products. In this work we study the relationship between the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the network, with emphasis on identifying regimes in which large changes of the system scale behavior are triggered by small changes in system parameters. Results pertaining to multiple types of networks will be presented and contrasted, including networks made from a single type of fiber and composite networks made from fibers of multiple types, densely cross-linked, sparsely cross-linked and non-cross-linked networks. Networks of non-cross-linked nanofibers interacting by adhesion form a separate class of soft materials ; the role of adhesion in defining the mechanical behavior of networks of fiber bundles will be discussed. Damage accumulation and failure in random networks will be also discussed, with emphasis on the relationship between the strength of the fibrous material and its microstructure.

Biography
Prof. Picu received his PhD degree from Dartmouth College and spent two years as Research Associate at Brown University. He joined the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1998, where he is now Professor and Associate Head. He is the author or co-author of two books, 18 book chapters and 200 journal articles. His research focuses on the mechanics of materials, and in particular, on understanding the macroscopic material behavior based on physics taking place on multiple scales. He is a fellow of ASME and Doctor Honoris Causa of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania.