Numerical simulation of the edge stress singularity and the adhesion strength for compliant mushroom fibrils adhered to rigid substrates

Bio-inspired adhesion of micropatterned surfaces due to intermolecular interactions has attracted much research interest over the last decade. Experiments show that the best adhesion is achieved with compliant “mushroom”-shaped fibrils. This paper analyses numerically the effects of different mushroom shapes on adhesion to a rigid substrate. When a remote stress is applied on the free end of a fibril perfectly bonded to a rigid substrate, the resultant stress distribution along the fibril is found to change dramatically between the straight punch and mushroom fibrils. A singular stress field is present at the edge of the fibril where it contacts the substrate and, in this work, the amplitude of the singularity is evaluated for fibrils perfectly bonded to a flat substrate so that sliding cannot occur there. This exercise is carried out for fibril geometries involving combinations of different diameters and thicknesses of the mushroom cap. By assuming a pre-existing detachment length at the corner where the stress singularity lies, we predict the adhesive strength for various mushroom cap shapes. Our study shows that a smaller stalk diameter and a thinner mushroom cap lead to higher adhesive strengths. A limited number of results are also given for other shapes, including those having a fillet radius connecting the stalk to the cap. The results support the rational optimization of synthetic micropatterned adhesives

Ductile-Phase Toughening of Brazed Joints

A heat treatment is presented that uses ductile-phase toughening to mitigate the effect of brittle intermetallics in a Ni-based braze alloy. The fracture resistance has been enhanced by creating a microstructure containing elongated ductile γ-(Ni) domains that align, preferentially, across the joint. The development of this beneficial microstructure is based on an understanding of the transient dissolution, isothermal solidification, and coarsening phenomena. Due to slow kinetics, the elimination of intermetallics by diffusion is avoided in favor of ductile domain formation through solidification control. The toughening has been attributed to a combination of bridging and process zone dissipation, enabled by the ductile phase

Microfluidic waveguides for frequency-based pumping

Frequency-based control of fluid transport using fluidic networks with deformable features holds the potential to greatly simplify flow control in bioanalytical microchips, by enabling channel switching with a single active element. This paper describes a fluidic waveguide (analogous to cable in electronics) consisting of a millimeter-sized channel enclosed on one side with a deformable membrane. Dynamic coupling between the membrane deformation and pressure waves in channel is shown to lower the wave speed to 10-50 m/, thus combining frequencies in the range of ~0.5-3 kHz with wavelengths of 1-50 millimeters, with acceptably low attenuation. As a result, it is feasible to construct fluidic filters that transmit pressures to remote locations (centimeters from the source), by combining the waveguide with passive pressure-activated diodes (check valves). Results are shown to illustrate effective device characteristics that will lead to useful performance for flow control

Inductively coupled microfluidic pressure meter forin vivomonitoring of cerebrospinal fluid shunt function

A microfluidic pressure sensor with inductively coupled, wireless readout capability has been developed for integration into cerebrospinal fluid shunt valve implants. The sensor consists of a deformable PDMS film that is bonded over a microfluidic reservoir, forming a fluidic capacitor. Deflection of the capacitor membrane is detected remotely through a shift in the resonance frequency of a micro-fabricated LC circuit. Sensors were fabricated by a combination of conventional MEMS technologies and rapid soft lithography. A direct pattern transfer technique was used to pattern the deformable PDMS film with a metal coating for the capacitive readout. The mechanical response of the fluidic capacitor was characterized by measuring the deflection of the PDMS film using an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI), and wireless sensing was demonstrated by the shift in resonance frequency of the sensor via an inductively coupled antenna. The sensor transduces pressure into a change in resonant frequency with sensitivity &gt;?3.4?ppm Pa?1 and responsivity 4.6?kHz Pa?1, over a dynamic range of 0 ~ 3 kPa.Keywords CSF shunt, Microfluidic pressure meter, Inductively coupled antenna, Fluidic capacitor, Implantable flowmeter<br/

Micromechanical models to guide the development of synthetic 'brick and mortar' composites

This paper describes a micromechanical analysis of the uniaxial response of composites comprising elastic platelets (bricks) bonded together with thin elastic perfectly plastic layers (mortar). The model yields closed-form results for the spatial variation of displacements in the bricks as a function of constituent properties, which can be used to calculate the effective properties of the composite, including elastic modulus, strength and work-to-failure. Regime maps are presented which indicate critical stresses for failure of the bricks and mortar as a function of constituent properties and brick architecture. The solution illustrates trade-offs between elastic modulus, strength and dissipated work that are a result of transitions between various failure mechanisms associated with brick rupture and rupture of the interfaces. Detailed scaling relationships are presented with the goal of providing material developers with a straightforward means to identify synthesis targets that balance competing mechanical behaviors and optimize material response. Ashby maps are presented to compare potential brick and mortar composites with existing materials, and identify future directions for material development. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserve