The Materials Mechanics Laboratory is concerned with fundamental problems in solid mechanics, particularly with the mechanical behavior of composite materials, microsystems, bones, metals and polymers under static and dynamic loading conditions.
The main research topics are: development of constitutive equations for metals and composites; investigation of failure mechanisms in composites; fracture mechanics and the dynamics of crack growth; damage tolerance and residual strength relevant to impact loading; ballistic penetration mechanics; adhesive bonding; acoustic emission; vibration damping; the solution of equilibrium and buckling problems for elastic and inelastic media; fatigue behavior; biomechanical behavior of human bones and tissues; development and investigation of orthopedic composite material elements to be used for replacement in the human body; deformation and strength of micromechanical elements.
Laboratory facilities consist of test equipment for a wide range of static and dynamic loading at room and elevated temperatures: MTS system of 25-ton load capacity, two INSTRON testing machines of 15-ton and 10-ton capacity, Impact loading machines with computerized data acquisition systems, video and strain gauge recording instrumentation. Acoustic emission detection apparatus, environmental chambers, Hopkinson Bars for determining strength of materials under high rates of loading, high frequency (20 kHz) Shaker, High speed digital camera KODAK(SR-1000c) (10kHz) for non-intrusive oscillation measurements; SEM scanning electron microscope (JSM 840), accurate (12 bit @ 10 MS/sec) NICOLET and high speed HP (8 bit @ 1 GS/sec) digital scopes. The laboratory includes a machine shop for the precise fabrication of specimens of metals and composite materials.
Head: Prof. D. Rittel
Academic Staff: N. Drimer, D. Elata, O. Gottlieb, O. Gendelman, S. Givli, D. Hexner, D. Mordehai, D. Rittel, D. Shilo, Y. Starosvetsky, S. Tzlil, G. Shmuel, S. Osovski
Laboratories:
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Amorphous solids laboratory
Our group studies systems that are inherently disordered (e.g., glasses, packings, driven suspensions, crumpled sheets). Using computational and theoretical techniques we strive to understand how simple microscopic rules give rise to complex emergent behaviors. A central theme of our research... Read More
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Cellular Biophysics and Biomechanics
We seek to understand the molecular origin of cell mechanosensing – the ability of cells to sense and respond to the mechanical properties of their environment. Our lab study the role of mechanical interaction between neuronal cells, cardiac cells and... Read More
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Characterization of Materials Laboratory
This laboratory is used to characterize the microstructure and failure mechanisms of materials. The laboratory includes optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with image acquisition and processing facilities. Moreover, capabilities of the laboratory open new directions of research which emphasize... Read More
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Composite Materials Laboratory
This laboratory conducts basic and applied research on the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composite materials. Loading conditions span a very large range, from creep and relaxation to cyclic fatigue, impact and high strain-rate loading. The characterization includes properties in... Read More
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Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Laboratory
The Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Laboratory focuses on combined asymptotic and finite-difference numerical methods for solution of coupled nonlinear rigid-body and elastic structures in laminar flow fields. Research topics include: Stability of flow around slender bodies at high angles of attack,... Read More
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Dynamic Fracture Laboratory
The Mechanics and the Physics of high rate deformation and fracture is the central theme of the Dynamic Fracture Laboratory. The Dynamic Fracture Laboratory was started within the Materials Mechanics Laboratory in 1994 by D. Rittel, to address specific issues... Read More
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Micro and Nano Mechanics of Materials
The research in the Laboratory for Micro- and Nano-Mechanics of Materials focuses on “smart” materials (i.e., materials that inherently function as motors or sensors) and biogenic materials (i.e., materials produced by living organisms). Of particular interest are multi-disciplinary problems in... Read More
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MicroSystems Laboratory
Microsystems are miniature devices constructed from elements of micro-scale dimensions. In our lab we investigate systems which are predominantly made of silicon. Since axes and sliders are impractical at the micro-scale, relative motion between different elements is enabled by flexure... Read More
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Nonlinear and Chaotic Dynamical Systems Laboratory
Nonlinear and Chaotic Dynamical Systems Laboratory The programs in Nonlinear and Chaotic Dynamical Systems Laboratory include: Global bifurcations and spatio-temporal instabilities in continuum mechanical systems and structures that exhibit chaotic and non-stationary dynamics. Stability and (piezoelectric) control of nonlinear nano/micro... Read More
