Academics / Courses / Course DescriptionsMECH_ENG 495: Fracture of Soft Materials
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Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of solid mechanics and chemistry.Description
Instructor: Prof. Junsoo Kim
Email: junsoo.kim@northwestern.edu
Office: Catalysis 326
Office Hours: For 30 mins after each class at the classroom
Phone: (847) 491-4322
Class Times: MWF 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
Location: TBD
Course Description
In this course, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of soft materials and learn about their fracture, fatigue, and adhesion. In addition to theoretical concepts, students will be introduced to various experimental methods used to measure the mechanical and fracture properties of soft materials.
Course outline
- Week 1: Introduction of polymers and thermodynamics
- Week 2: Elasticity of soft materials
- Week 3: Finite deformation theory
- Week 4: Griffith theory
- Week 5: Linear elastic fracture mechanics
- Week 6: Toughness
- Week 7: Fatigue
- Week 8: Adhesion
- Week 9: Measurement of fracture properties
- Week 10: Case study
Homework
There are weekly homework assignments during the term, due in one week. The homework aims to digest the concepts taught in the class by giving an opportunity to have hands-on experience.
Final exam
The final exam is an oral exam. The student will receive a problem set 30 mins prior to the oral exam and present the answers to the instructor for 30 mins. The final exam is based on homework.
Grading
Homework (50%), Final exam (50%)
Textbook
There is no required textbook. Some great resources relevant to this class are provided below:
Course note by Prof. Zhigang Suo
Course note by Prof. Ken Shull
Fracture Behaviour of Polymers, by Robert J. Young A. J. Kinloch, Anthony J. Kinloch
Fracture of Brittle Solids, by Brian Lawn
Fracture Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, by Ted L. Anderson
Polymer Physics, by M. Rubinstein, Ralph H. Colby