About this Research Topic
The topic “Physics of Deformation and Fracture of Materials at Small Length Scale” has huge academic, technical and technological fall out. This field is enjoying global research interest much more today than yester-years. The Topic can be routinely studied by using the “Nanoindentation (NI) Technique” in commercially available nanoindenter machines as well as in Atomic Force Microscopes wherein especially ultra low load can be applied and deformation and fracture issues at the ultra-small depth can be addressed. As a result, the nano scale physics of deformation and fracture in materials can be evaluated as a function of both position and depth, at the interface in nanocomposites, across the layers of multilayer structures, soft biomaterials and polymers at the microstructural length scale. In this process a nanoindenter with a tip radius of about 10 -300 nm is pushed into a given surface. The resulting force on the surface and displacement of the surface are continuously recorded by appropriate transducers. By using the depth data the area of contact is estimated. Then “nanohardness” of the surface is evaluated as the ratio of the maximum load / contact area at the microstructural length scale of a given material. In addition, the Young’s modulus, fracture toughness, creep and residual stress etc. also can be evaluated by the (NI) technique.
The authors are encouraged to submit research papers related to this Research Topic and studied by the (NI) technique or any other appropriate (e.g. micro-pillar compression etc.) technique on:
- Experimental and theoretical studies related to Physics of Deformation and Fracture at Small Length Scales of Metals, Polymers, Ceramics, Thin Films, Thick Coatings, Composites, Natural Hierarchical Bio structures, Synthetic Biomaterials etc.
- Simulation studies based on application of FEM Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Molecular Dynamic Solution etc. to Physics of Deformation and Fracture at Small Length Scales of various materials.
- Reviews of topical interest in emerging areas related to Physics of Deformation and Fracture at Small Length Scales of various materials.
- Combination of both experimental studies and simulation studies applied to Physics of Deformation and Fracture at Small Length Scales of technological materials e.g, Energy Storage and Harvesting Materials, Novel Carbon Based Materials, Novel Biomaterials for Prosthetic Application etc.
Keywords: deformation, fracture, nanoindentation technique, materials
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