Bioinspired design toward nanocellulose-based materials

Nature provides lots of inspiration for material and structural design for various applications. Deriving design principles from the investigation of nature can provide a rich source of inspiration for the development of multifunctional materials. The bioinspired design templates mainly include mussels, nacre, and various plant species. As a sustainable and renewable feedstock, nanocellulose can be used to fabricate advanced materials with multifunctional properties through bioinspired designs. However, challenges and opportunities remain for realizing the full potential in the design of novel materials. This article reviewed recent development in the bioinspired nanocellulose based materials and their application. This article summarizes the functions (e.g., surface wetting) and applications (e.g., composite) of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials. The bioinspired design templates are discussed along with strategies, advantages, and challenges to the development of synthetic mimics. Additionally, mechanisms and processes (e.g., chemical modification, self-assembly) leading to biomimetic design are discussed. Finally, future research directions and opportunities of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials are highlighted.     

Applications of bio-inspired special wettable surfaces

In this review we focus on recent developments in applications of bio-inspired special wettable surfaces. We highlight surface materials that in recent years have shown to be the most promising in their respective fields for use in future applications. The selected topics are divided into three groups, applications of superhydrophobic surfaces, surfaces of patterned wettability and integrated multifunctional surfaces and devices. We will present how the bio-inspired wettability has been integrated into traditional materials or devices to improve their performances and to extend their practical applications by developing new functionalities.     

Reliability in composites – A selective review and survey of current development

As a response to the rampant increase in research activity within reliability in the past few decades, and to the lack of a conclusive framework for composite applications, this article attempts to identify the most relevant reliability topics to composite materials and provide a selective review. Available reliability assessment methods are briefly explained, referenced and compared within an unified formulation. Recent developments to confer efficiency in computing reliability in large composite structures are also highlighted. Finally, some general conclusions are derived along with an overview of future directions of research within reliability of composite materials and their influence on design and optimization.     

轻质多孔材料与结构研究的最新进展(英文)

大力推进材料和装备的轻量化、减量化是实现节能减排、加快建设节约型社会的关键措施,是新世纪工程科技的发展方向。大至海洋平台、大飞机机身和动车组车体,再到日常生活中的车辆,乃至小电子散热器件等,轻量化和多功能化均成为其发展中重要一环。围绕相关特殊工况应用条件下的轻质材料与结构的设计和研究面临一系列挑战:质量轻、力学强度高、散热性能好、动力学性能和隔振、隔声性能可调等多功能要求,因此如何在现有的材料和结构基础上进一步减轻重量并获得更优良的综合性能是材料科学、固体力学、传热、声学、优化设计等诸多领域工作者面临的共同挑战。基于本课题组近5年来围绕"超轻多孔结构创新构型的多功能化基础研究"国家基础研究计划项目所开展的一系列工作,综述了国内超轻多孔材料与结构最新发展水平的研究成果,总结了具有特定或多功能化应用的这类新型轻质多孔材料多学科交叉研究的进展,包括材料制备,力学、热学和声学特性,以及无损检测及优化设计等。     

组合结构耐火性能研究的部分新进展

组合结构的耐火性能和抗火设计原理研究是工程界所关注的热点问题。该文简要介绍了国内外研究者们在组合板、组合梁、组合柱等结构构件以及结构节点、框架和结构体系耐火性能方面取得的部分研究结果,归纳了组合结构在火灾下(后)的工作机理和抗火设计方法及耐火性能研究方面的部分新进展。该文最后对组合结构抗火研究领域需进一步开展的工作进行了探讨和展望。     

Recent progress in the design and fabrication of multifunctional structures based on metamaterials

Metamaterials, with unconventional properties realized through various ingenious designs of micro-architectures, have become a recent research hotspot in the fields of electromagnetics, acoustics, mechanics, and physics. Since the integration of mechanical features and specific functions is still a challenge, the application of metamaterials has so far been limited. The research in relevant areas has shown a clear trend of incorporating the multifunctional design into a single integrated structure. Here, we review the latest advances in the design and fabrication of multifunctional structures based on metamaterials, covering three main aspects, i.e., the direct design of mechanical metamaterials and their multifunctional structures, the intelligent multifunctional structures with shape-shifting capabilities, the metamaterials-based design to achieve both the load bearing capability and other specific functions. We emphasize the important roles that the mechanics-driven designs play, as well as the mechanisms and other key aspects behind the multifunctional structures. The structure-level innovations could not only improve multifunctional features, but also pave the way to function fusion structures that allow the incorporation of ‘conflicting’ functions into a single structure.     

Patterning Porous Oxides within Microchannel Networks

A continuing challenge for materials chemists and engineers is the ability to create multifunctional composite structures with well‐defined superimposed structural order from nanometer to micrometer length scales. Materials with three‐dimensional structures ordered over multiple length scales can be prepared by carrying out colloidal crystallization and inorganic/organic cooperative self‐assembly within microchannel networks. The resulting materials show hierarchical ordering over several discrete and tunable length scales ranging from several nanometers to micrometers. These patterned porous materials hold promise for use as advanced catalysts, sensors, low‐k dielectrics, optoelectronic and integrated photonic crystal devices.     

Integration of Metal Nanoparticles into Metal–Organic Frameworks for Composite Catalysts: Design and Synthetic Strategy

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are constructed by periodically alternate metal ions with organic ligands, which offer structural diversity and a wide range of interesting properties as an attractive classification of crystalline porous materials. Integration of MOFs with other size‐limited functional centers can supply new multifunctional composites, which exhibit both the properties of the components and new characteristics due to the combination of MOFs with the selected loadings. In recent years, integration of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) into MOFs to form the composite catalysts has attracted considerable attention due to the superior performance. In this review, the latest studies and up‐to‐date developments on the design and synthetic strategy of new MNP@MOF composite catalysts are specifically highlighted. Both the achievements and problems are evaluated and proposed, and the opportunities and challenges of MNP@MOF composite catalysts are discussed.     

Crystal design of organic pigments — a prototype discipline of materials science

The significance of crystal properties for the product performance of organic pigments has always required special efforts to analyze, to control and to design these materials. In this article recent developments and the modern scientific facets of pigments research (e.g. crystal structure prediction and polymorphism, electronic structures of molecular crystals, and crystal morphology determination) will be discussed. The broad interest in these topics is shared with many other areas of scientific and industrial research on molecular solids.     

Synthesis,Functionalization, and Biomedical Applications of Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles

Synthesis of multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles (MFMNPs) is one of the most active research areas in advanced materials. MFMNPs that have magnetic properties and other functionalities have been demonstrated to show great promise as multimodality imaging probes. Their multifunctional surfaces also allow rational conjugations of biological and drug molecules, making it possible to achieve target‐specific diagnostics and therapeutics. This review first outlines the synthesis of MNPs of metal oxides and alloys and then focuses on recent developments in the fabrication of MFMNPs of core/shell, dumbbell, and composite hybrid type. It also summarizes the general strategies applied for NP surface functionalization. The review further highlights some exciting examples of these MFMNPs for multimodality imaging and for target‐specific drug/gene delivery applications.     

Design and analysis trends of helicopter rotor systems

To overcome many of the problems associated with conventional articulated rotor systems, new rotor systems are being contemplated. In this paper, the state-of-art technology of advanced rotor systems is assessed. Advanced rotors include hingeless, bearingless, composite, circulation control, tilt and advanced geometry rotors. The paper reviews mathematical modelling, analysis methods, past and recent developments, potential limitations and future research needs in each system. Also, the potential of incorporation of structural optimization methodology and smart structures technology in rotors to improve the efficiency and capabilities of rotorcraft is discussed.     

航天器结构材料的应用现状与未来展望

随着大型复杂高精度航天器的迅速发展和深空探测器开发进程的加快,航天器对于轻质高强结构材料的需求异常迫切。轻合金、碳纤维复合材料等的进步为航天器结构的更新换代做出重要贡献,成为当前航天器结构材料的主体,增材制造的发展又为材料结构形式的改进提供了重要手段。文章从航天器结构材料的需求出发,分析了卫星常用金属材料与复合材料的基本性能、应用情况及存在的问题。最后结合近年来开展的预先研究和其他行业的材料发展及新兴技术的出现,对航天器用结构材料的未来发展进行了展望。     

Mapping the social and behavioral sciences world-wide: Use of maps in portfolio analysis of national research efforts

We have developed a method to identify and map the internationally most visible research topics occurring in the social and behavioral sciences, as well as the topics which changed most over a decade. Methods and data relevent to a portfolio analysis of national research efforts are described. Keywords used by authors in scientific or scholarly publications provide a window on scientific developments and changes in scientific research. Using an interdisciplinary database, the SSCI, developments in publications were traced world-wide and for the US, UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We compared two periods: 1981–85 and 1986–90 We discuss the major substantive developments occurring during 1981–1990, as visible in maps depicting both topics and disciplines. It is shown that the maps, enriched with scientometric indicators of strengths and weaknesses of national research efforts, can be important tools for science policy. The findings indicate that the research front on many topics in both social and behavioral sciences is international in the late 1980s.     

Composite‐Structure Material Design for High‐Energy Lithium Storage

High‐energy storage devices are in demand for the rapid development of modern society. Until now, many kinds of energy storage devices, such as lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), sodium‐ion batteries (NIBs), and so on, have been developed in the past 30 years. However, most of the commercially exploited and studied active electrode materials of these energy storage devices possess a single phase with low reversible capacity or unsatisfied cycle stability. Continuous and extensive research efforts are made to develop alternative materials with a higher specific energy density and long cycle life by element doping or surface modification. A novel strategy of forming composite‐structure electrode materials by introducing structure units has attracted great attention in recent years. Herein, based on previous publications on these composite‐structure materials, some important scientific points focusing on the design of composite‐structure materials for better electrochemical performances reveal the distinction of composite structures based on average and local structure analysis methods, and an understanding of the relationship between these interior composite structures and their electrochemical performances is discussed thoroughly. The lithiation/delithiation mechanism and the remaining challenges and perspectives for composite‐structure electrode materials are also elaborated.     

Review of nanocarbon-engineered multifunctional cementitious composites

As structural materials, cementitious materials are quasi-brittle and susceptible to cracking, and have no functional properties. Nanotechnology is introduced into cementitious materials to address these issues. Nano materials, especially nano carbon materials (NCMs) were found to be able to improve/modify the mechanical property, durability and functional properties of cementitious materials due to their excellent intrinsic properties and composite effects. Here, this review focuses on the recent progress of fabrication, properties, and structural applications of high-performance and multifunctional cementitious composites with NCMs including carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes and nano graphite platelets. The improvement/modification mechanisms of these NCMs to composites are also discussed.     

湿度响应致动器的研究进展和展望

本文总结了近几年湿度响应致动器的研究进展,从湿度响应致动器分类和驱动原理出发,主要讨论了响应性材料和致动器结构设计,对湿度响应材料目前的发展现状和存在的关键科学难点进行了系统的总结,旨在为具有新颖功能的智能微型致动器提供新的设计思路。多刺激响应、可编程,多功能和驱动-传感-控制一体化等多学科交叉研究方向将是未来湿度响应致动器研究新的突破点。     

Multifunctional polymer composites

This paper reviews research within the Structural Materials Centre, DRA Farnborough into adding additional functionality to polymer composite materials in order to increase their usefulness in addition to the traditional role of structural materials.Demand for greater value for money and cost effectiveness has driven materials scientists and engineers to look at ways of adding value to these materials by getting them to perform functions other that those originally envisaged, that is carrying load, being rigid and not buckling. This might simply be by combining materials together as hybrids to save weight or cost or perhaps to improve toughness without compromising the original properties. Alternatively, totally unrelated performance might be sought, such as the ability to sense and locate damage, these materials having been termed smart materials.In this paper the behaviour of a number of polymer composite multifunctional materials is presented, with examples drawn mainly from work in the Structural Materials Centre at DRA Farnborough. The review covers smart materials and structures, materials designed to absorb electromagnetic radiation and materials optimised for energy absorption.Abbreviations SMC Structural Materials Centre - DRA Defence Research Agency - SHM Structural Health Monitoring - LTC Long Term Cost - PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride - PDF Potential Difference Surface - CFRP Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic - GRP Glass Reinforced Plastic     

Recent Progress in Biomimetic Additive Manufacturing Technology: From Materials to Functional Structures

Nature has developed high‐performance materials and structures over millions of years of evolution and provides valuable sources of inspiration for the design of next‐generation structural materials, given the variety of excellent mechanical, hydrodynamic, optical, and electrical properties. Biomimicry, by learning from nature's concepts and design principles, is driving a paradigm shift in modern materials science and technology. However, the complicated structural architectures in nature far exceed the capability of traditional design and fabrication technologies, which hinders the progress of biomimetic study and its usage in engineering systems. Additive manufacturing (three‐dimensional (3D) printing) has created new opportunities for manipulating and mimicking the intrinsically multiscale, multimaterial, and multifunctional structures in nature. Here, an overview of recent developments in 3D printing of biomimetic reinforced mechanics, shape changing, and hydrodynamic structures, as well as optical and electrical devices is provided. The inspirations are from various creatures such as nacre, lobster claw, pine cone, flowers, octopus, butterfly wing, fly eye, etc., and various 3D‐printing technologies are discussed. Future opportunities for the development of biomimetic 3D‐printing technology to fabricate next‐generation functional materials and structures in mechanical, electrical, optical, and biomedical engineering are also outlined.     

Composite materials for aerospace applications

Fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials are fast gaining ground as preferred materials for construction of aircraft and spacecraft. In particular, their use as primary structural materials in recent years in several technology-demonstrator front-line aerospace projects world-wide has provided confidence leading to their acceptance as prime materials for aerospace vehicles. This paper gives a review of some of these developments with a discussion of the problems with the present generation composites and prospects for further developments. Although several applications in the aerospace sector are mentioned, the emphasis of the review is on applications of composites as structural materials where they have seen a significant growth in usage. The focus of the paper is especially on the developments on the Indian aerospace scene. A brief review of composites usage in aerospace sector is first given. The nature of composite materials behaviour and special problems in designing and working with them are then highlighted. The issues discussed relate to the impact damage and damage tolerance in general, environmental degradation and long-term durability. Current solutions are briefly described and the scope for new developments is outlined. In the end, some directions for future work are given.     

Magnetic Shape Memory Polymers with Integrated Multifunctional Shape Manipulation

Shape-programmable soft materials that exhibit integrated multifunctional shape manipulations, including reprogrammable, untethered, fast, and reversible shape transformation and locking, are highly desirable for a plethora of applications, including soft robotics, morphing structures, and biomedical devices. Despite recent progress, it remains challenging to achieve multiple shape manipulations in one material system. Here, a novel magnetic shape memory polymer composite is reported to achieve this. The composite consists of two types of magnetic particles in an amorphous shape memory polymer matrix. The matrix softens via magnetic inductive heating of low-coercivity particles, and high-remanence particles with reprogrammable magnetization profiles drive the rapid and reversible shape change under actuation magnetic fields. Once cooled, the actuated shape can be locked. Additionally, varying the particle loadings for heating enables sequential actuation. The integrated multifunctional shape manipulations are further exploited for applications including soft magnetic grippers with large grabbing force, reconfigurable antennas, and sequential logic for computing.