Articles tagged with Structural Engineering
Engineers developed a new class of mechanical metamaterials that delocalize deformations to prevent failure. The materials feature a 25-fold enhancement in deformability and an orders-of-magnitude increase in energy absorption.
Researchers develop hierarchical structure for lightweight materials by self-organization, creating a new type of exceptionally strong yet light material. The material's open network structure results in an impressive density reduction and mechanical properties superior to state-of-the-art materials.
Researchers create a 'ship-in-a-bottle structure' by slowly moving reactive components to the surface, where they form stalagmite-like spikes of metal oxides. This process enables purification and recovery of pure and precious metals from alloys in electronic waste.
An international team of researchers solved a puzzling phenomenon involving vortex-like structures in the Cold Spray deposition process. The discovery, published in Materials & Design, reveals that these structures form when the CS process has low deposition efficiency, leading to improved adhesion between coatings and substrates.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new approach to quantum device design, producing the first gain-based long-wavelength infrared photodetector using band structure engineering. The advanced photodetector offers enhanced sensitivity for next-generation LWIR photodetectors and focal plane array imagers.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Lehigh University a $5.3 million grant to renew the NHERI Experimental Facility for another five years. The facility will provide unique experimental resources and data management for studying the effects of natural hazards on civil infrastructure, enabling researchers to develop transformati...
Ali Abolmaali, chair of UTA's civil engineering department, is a recognized authority on computational mechanics and synthetic fiber reinforced concrete pipes. He has secured over $36 million in research funding from various agencies.
Researchers created origami-built metamaterials that retain shape recoverability, directional mechanical properties, and reversible auxeticity. This breakthrough enables multifunctional applications in soft robotics and medical devices.
Researchers at Harvard have developed a fast-moving jumping soft actuator that harnesses the energy released by buckling to achieve speed. The device uses shell buckling similar to toy poppers, enabling it to catapult itself into the air and navigate safely through uncharted landscapes.
The University of Texas at Arlington is collaborating with the city of Coppell to inspect sewer pipelines using robotic technology and machine learning. The project aims to predict the remaining service life of the pipelines, utilizing advanced analysis techniques such as Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Konsta-Gdoutos is recognized for her leading contributions to the development of high-performance smart cementitious nanocomposites and advancing UTA's efforts in this area. Her election as a fellow honors her work, which positions UTA at the forefront of impactful research in civil engineering and materials science.
A team of engineers at UC San Diego has discovered a method to make materials more resilient against massive shocks using grooved patterns. The researchers found that these patterns can diminish the impacts of reflected shock waves, while initial transmitted shock waves showed inconclusive results.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are investigating how small amounts of water affect the molecular structure of ionic liquids at solid-liquid interfaces. The goal is to leverage this understanding to achieve better performance in applications such as energy storage devices and manufacturing.
Dartmouth researchers developed an algorithm to measure brain activity patterns and assess conceptual understanding in students. The method produced neural scores that significantly predicted individual differences in performance on concept knowledge tests, highlighting the brain's role in processing complex information.
Omri Weinstein, assistant professor at Columbia University, has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to explore data structures and information retrieval. His research aims to develop new mathematical tools for proving lower bounds on data structure efficiency and scalable storage applications.
Researchers at Brigham Young University have developed a new class of mechanical devices called 'developable mechanisms' that can transform into useful functions without taking up space. These devices can be integrated into surfaces to create compact machines with complex tasks.
Engineers at the University of Sheffield are developing more effective bomb protection systems by studying explosions in detail. The project aims to provide a better understanding of blast loading and its effects on structures, enabling the design of safer buildings and materials.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a physics-based model that reveals the relationship between structural defects in graphene and electrode sensitivity. By optimizing point defects in number and density, they can create an electrode up to 20 times more sensitive than conventional ones.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a novel strategy to create high-strength alloys that are also extremely ductile and flexible. The breakthrough solution involves massive precipitation of nanoscale particles, solving the critical issue of the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma.
Researchers discovered the hierarchical structure of whale baleen contributes to its unique fracture behavior. The nanoscale structure increases stiffness and strength, while microscale tubular lamellae control crack propagation, making it an ideal material for marine applications.
A City College of New York-led research team breaks the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) distance limit using engineered nanocomposite structures called metamaterials. This breakthrough enables the possibility of measuring larger molecular assemblies, with significant increase in energy transfer distance reported.
The world's largest outdoor shake table at UC San Diego will now test heavy structures with complex ground motions, enabling researchers to gather critical data on tall wooden buildings and retrofitting systems.
Karen Kasza, a researcher at Columbia Engineering, has won a Packard Fellowship for her work on understanding tissue development and morphology. Her lab aims to use novel approaches to engineer functional tissues for medical applications.
A team of researchers from Clemson University and two other institutions is working to understand the genetics and structural mechanics behind stalk lodging in corn and sorghum. The study aims to break down complex traits into smaller, intermediate characteristics that can be easily grasped at both genetic and structural levels.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to break dry spaghetti into exactly two pieces by twisting and then slowly bending it. The team developed an apparatus to control the twist and bend, and used it to test hundreds of sticks, finding that this method works consistently across different types of spaghetti.
Dr. Bedewy will explore the kinetics of activation and deactivation in large populations of carbon nanotubes known as 'nanotube forests' using experimental and modeling techniques. The research aims to gain a fundamental understanding of how these forest structures behave collectively, impacting their properties for emerging applications.
Researchers present a new strategy to exploit dynamically reinforced multilevel heterogeneous grain structures for high-strength and large-ductility materials. This approach achieves a strength-ductility combination in a single-phase, simple-structured alloy that would normally require complex heterogeneities.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has discovered 10-nanometer, individual, self-assembled dodecahedral structures that could have significant applications in mesoscale material assembly and medical diagnostics. The discovery was made using a combination of machine learning algorithms and cryogenic electron microscopy.
A UCLA-led team developed a new 3D printer to create complex artificial tissues from multiple materials. The printer uses stereolithography and a custom-built microfluidic chip, enabling the creation of biocompatible structures with different properties.
Five Columbia engineering professors have received NSF CAREER Awards for their groundbreaking research. Agostino Capponi develops a framework to increase resilience of global financial markets, while Daniel Esposito creates electocatalytic materials for abundant solar fuels.
Researchers at the University of Arizona and partnering universities are working on a NSF-funded project to develop buildings that won't collapse under major earthquakes. The focus is on lateral force transfer through steel collectors, which horizontally transmit earthquake forces.
A new study from the University of Utah suggests that repeated stress from everyday activities like walking can cause microdamage to bones in older adults, leading to a higher risk of breakage. This theory, known as 'cyclic loading,' challenges the common-held belief that bone breaks are caused by single impacts or forces.
A new mathematical model, developed by Colorado State University researchers, integrates a community's infrastructural, social, and economic features to quantify resilience. The 'hazard-agnostic' model, tested in the fictional city of Gotham, provides a framework for predicting long-term effects of disasters and disruptions.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have introduced a new class of unclonable cybersecurity primitives made from low-cost nanomaterials with high structural randomness. These primitives can be used to securely encrypt and authenticate computer hardware and data physically, rather than through programming.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are exploring a new architectural system based on acoustic diodes to create effective sound barriers that can cancel out unwanted noise. The technology has the potential to improve indoor comfort, reduce mental stress, and enhance workplace efficiency.
Biomedical researchers have developed a new method to visualize multiple molecular species simultaneously using self-folding DNA structures with digitally programmable optical properties. This approach overcomes the limitation of current microscopy techniques, enabling ultra-high definition imaging of complex samples.
Dr Dmitry Zmeev has been awarded a £1.4M EPSRC Career Fellowship to investigate the properties of superfluid helium 3He. His research aims to understand its unusual behavior and potential applications in nano-electronics and cosmology.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have synthesized carbon nanotube textiles that exhibit high electrical conductivity and extreme toughness, making them suitable for a range of applications in flexible electronics
Researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered that FIB can fundamentally alter a material's structure, affecting its entire sample. The team developed new X-ray techniques to assess this damage and will focus on developing strategies to mitigate FIB damage.
A novel optical technique enables rapid sorting of amino acid sequences in living bacteria, revealing structural properties crucial for materials development. This technology uses femto-pico second lasers to inspect proteins without heating them up, enabling non-lethal screening and separation.
A research team has developed a new method for fabricating lasers using nanoparticles known as quantum dots. By carefully controlling the size of the quantum dots, they can 'tune' the frequency or color of the emitted light to any desired value.
Scientists have discovered a phenomenon where solid metal bismuth retains structural motifs from its liquid predecessor, even when cooled back to solid. This effect, known as 'structural memory', is correlated with changes in magnetic properties and has potential applications in electrical engineering.
Researchers from NYU Tandon School of Engineering successfully assembled colloidal spheres into diamond and pyrochlore crystal structures, a breakthrough in creating efficient photonic crystals. The discovery has the potential to increase the efficiency of lasers and miniaturize optical components.
Deer antlers' unique structure has been replicated in computer modeling to resist breaking. The staggered arrangement of fibrils allows for energy absorption during impact.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed a non-invasive method to detect infections in prostheses using an improved version of electrical capacitance tomography and a thin-film sensor that can detect changes in pH levels. The new method could provide quantitative diagnostic information about the extent and locations of infections.
Researchers at University of Nottingham have developed a new laser scanning test to assess fire-damaged concrete structural safety. The technique uses terrestrial laser scanning to detect damage and provides an accurate assessment of the material's strength changes when heated to elevated temperatures.
A University of Houston engineer leads a multi-institution effort to develop monitoring techniques for stable fuel transport during transit and accidents. Researchers will study structural issues, risk analysis, and new sensing techniques to ensure spent nuclear fuel can be safely moved from temporary storage to permanent disposal sites.
A new technique for structural color has been developed by Harvard researchers, inspired by the disordered nanonetwork of bird feathers. The system creates a gradient of colors using a metallic alloy and a thin transparent coating, enabling vibrant hues for applications such as lightweight coatings, biomimetic tissues, and camouflage.
The spherical mechanical seal's performance is influenced by structure size, including radius, stator-ring distance, and diameter. Increasing the spherical radius reduces contact area but raises temperature and pressure.
A team of researchers from Utah State University, Dartmouth College and Brigham Young University used high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry to describe the phenomenon. They found that buoyant spheres ascending through a fluid don't always behave as expected, with speed and vortex structures affecting their trajectory.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have created three-dimensional maps showing the positions of atoms critical in the decay process using atom probe tomography. The study reveals magnesium-rich regions between hydroxyapatite nanorods, which play a key role in governing tooth behavior.
The University of Pittsburgh chemical engineer is studying the self-assembly of materials into complex structures at sizes much larger than the nanoscale. The research aims to advance the fundamental understanding of large-scale self-assembly and test applications in biological sensors, computer chips, and photonic devices.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have determined a previously unknown structure of proteins key to making terpenoids, a family of molecules encompassing successful cancer treatments. The study provides insight into how Nature makes these compounds and may lead to engineering structural diversity in bacteria.
Researchers from the University of Delaware have developed a new approach to detect hidden damage in structures, using carbon nanotube composites and electrical impedance tomography. The technique can monitor the health of structures and alert owners to potential problems, with major benefits including scalability and relatively low cost.
Researchers at the IBS Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems engineered Landau-Zener-Bloch oscillations within a lattice structure, revealing anharmonic properties. The study demonstrates potential for engineering new quantum states and resolving the behavior of Bloch oscillations under external fields.
A researcher at the University of Houston is developing a new technique to map the cornea's structural integrity using high-resolution imaging and mechanical mapping. This emerging field, optical elastography, holds promise for early diagnosis and treatment of kerataconus, a progressive thinning of the cornea that affects about one in ...
A joint university team is using field and laboratory tests, computer modeling, to evaluate the level of vibration six rock-based lighthouses endure from constant sea battering. The study aims to understand how climate change affects lighthouse longevity.
The James Webb Space Telescope science instrument package was successfully installed into the telescope structure with precision engineering and teamwork. The team conducted rigorous training and testing before the critical mission operation, ensuring the instruments and mirrors are ready for launch.
Researchers successfully mapped spatial distribution of excitonic coupling in well-defined arrangements of zinc-phthalocyanine molecules. They also observed enhanced single-molecule superradiance for in-line arrangements of up to four molecules.
Researchers have developed a novel 4D printing method inspired by natural structures like plants, which respond and change their form over time. The new technique enables the creation of transformable architectures with precise, localized swelling behaviors.