Investigates the mechanical and electronic properties of two-dimensional nanomaterials under strain, addressing gaps in the existing literature. The primary challenge with these materials is the inconsistent application of high strain rates and the absence of experimental data at low temperatures. To overcome these challenges, we develop Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)-based devices for characterizing 2D nanomaterials and semiconductor materials at low temperatures. Four MEMS-based devices are developed to facilitate this characterization. The first device is a unique MEMS testing platform with on-chip actuation, sensing, and feedback control systems, capable of applying controlled displacements to nanoscale specimens while minimizing temperature fluctuations. To achieve this, MEMS thermal actuators with an axial stiffness of 40253.6 N/m are used. Capacitive sensors and V-beam amplification mechanisms are designed for precise measurement. The second device, the cascaded MEMS device, employs horizontal and vertical V-shaped structures to measure stress-strain curves of 2D nanomaterials at low temperatures. The third device is a customized MEMS electrostatic actuator for bending tests on silicon material under low-temperature conditions. Finally, two MEMS rotational structures, including a novel C-shaped structure, are developed to amplify movement. The MEMS devices are fabricated using bulk micromachining and deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers, incorporating underpass technology for electrical isolation within the MEMS-based testing platforms. To optimize DRIE etching parameters for creating underpass islands in SOI MEMS, a study was conducted considering a total of nine wafers, divided into two batches for fabrication process, and examining their behavior concerning the etching process. The devices are optically characterized at room temperature and tested in a vacuum environment and at low temperatures using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tool.

The problem of predicting the stresses and strains in a plain concrete member subject to sustained non-uniform stress is investigated. Two theoretical methods of solving this problem are presented. Both were used to predict the strains and stresses of four eccentrically-loaded plain concrete prisms which formed a part of an experimental program. The experimental program also furnished data necessary for both of the theoretical approaches. It is concluded that the two methods are useful, and that they may be easily modified to deal with problems involving the sustained load characteristics of reinforced concrete members. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

<p> Metagreywackes of the Goldenville Formation, Nova Scotia, possess a well developed penetrative cleavage. Measurement of strain, based on quartz grain shape, indicates that much of the strain has been achieved by pressure solution of detrital quartz grains. Strain ratios in the system range from X/Z = 3.8 in cleavage zones, through 2.0 in intermediate areas, to 1.6 in lithons. The volume lost from cleavage zones ranges from 60 to 70 percent, while loss of volume to the system as a whole is 40 percent or greater. Strain due to plastic deformation is minimal, relative to the strain due to volume loss. The strain within the system is not homogeneous on a centimeter scale, but rather range from low values in mid-lithon zones to much higher values in cleavage zones. Lithon and intermediate areas are representative of the deformation history of the cleavage.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> A research project is presented to assess the capabilities of Square Hollow Structural Sections for seismic design. This assessment is based mainly on the energy dissipation and ductility measures. An attempt is made to establish a preliminary guideline of the maximum slenderness ratio that qualify the aforementioned sections for conservative seismic design. </p> <p> An experimental programme on seven different sections was performed to evaluate the loss in flexural capacity due to inelastic cyclic loads, and to construct the load-deflection and moment-curvature hysteresis loops. </p> <p> A comparison is made between the flange slenderness requirements of both HSS and wide flange rot led sections capable of resisting the same level of inelastic strain reversals for the same number of cycles. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

AA7075 is a precipitation hardening structural aluminum alloy, which has garnered considerable interest in automotive industry, primarily due its lightweighting capacity compared to many other aluminum alloys from 2xxx and 6xxx series. However, the damage evolution in AA7075 is quite complex due to the presence of different second phase particles in the microstructure and their contribution on damage evolution is largely unknown at large plastic strains. The common second phase particles are η precipitates, θ precipitates and Fe-rich intermetallic particles. The current work presents an extensive multiscale numerical framework, which in conjunction with complementary experiments, is applied to study strain localization, void nucleation, growth, and coalescence in a particle rich matrix. Experimentally, void nucleation is observed to be driven by particle decohesion and particle fracture. Nanoscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is carried out to estimate interface properties of the three distinct particle types. The extracted properties are used as input for real particle field 2D and 3D microstructure based finite element (FE) models. The stochastic nature of particle fracture is described using a Weibull distribution, while the effect of grains is incorporated in terms of their Taylor factors. Ductile matrix is described using the well known Gurson Tvergaard Needleman (GTN) void damage model. Complementary experiments included uniaxial tensile tests carried out in-situ in Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), ex-situ high resolution XCT and Electron Back Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) tests. The FE models with three distinct particle stoichiometries and three competing damage mechanisms, show good agreement with experimental observations. Particle fracture marginally dominates particle decohesion. At low plastic strains, void nucleation is initiated by decohesion and fracture of larger Fe-rich particles, which facilitate formation of localized deformation bands. At large plastic strain, elevated stresses within the localized bands facilitate decohesion and fracture of more resistant η and θ precipitates. Due to their inherent larger size and more irregular morphology, θ precipitates contribute to voiding more than η precipitates. Under uniaxial tensile loads, void growth takes place in the middle of the specimen, driven by higher triaxiality stress state in the middle, relative to the surface. Void coalescence occurs along deformation bands driven by higher stresses due accumulated plastic strain within the bands, in a process known as void sheeting. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Bone and bone cells have been shown to respond to mechanical forces placed upon them. Particularly, strain plays an important role in osteogenic differentiation of marrow cells around artificial implants in bone. These strains, depending on their magnitude, duration, and repetition, can alter the proliferation and matrix synthesis of osteoblasts. To test how strain parameters influence osteoblast behavior, a four-point bending apparatus was used to impose cyclic strain on osteogenic stem cells isolated from rats and seeded on titanium plates. Cells were stimulated at 1 Hz for 15 minutes daily and compared to an unstrained control. Stimulation occurred at two magnitudes: 400 and 1000 micro-strain, and three levels of repetition: one, three, and five consecutive days. DNA, protein, alkaline phosphatase, and calcium levels were measured to determine the proliferation and matrix synthesis activity of the cells. No statistically significant effect was found for the tested parameters under these conditions.

The ultrastructural mechanism for strain rate sensitivity of collagenous tissue has not been well studied at the collagen fibril level. The objective is to reveal the mechanistic contribution of the collagen fibril to strain rate sensitivity. Collagen fibrils underwent significantly greater fibril strain relative to global tissue strain at higher strain rates. A better understanding of tendon mechanisms at lower hierarchical levels would help establish a basis for future development of constitutive models and assist in tissue replacement design. High rate mechanical property of tendon was also studied. Tendon was compressed under high strain rate (550 /s) using a polycarbonate split Hopkinson pressure bar (PSHPB). The objectives are to investigate the tissue behavior of porcine tendon at high rates. Tendon’s high rate behavior was compared with brain and liver at both hydrated and dehydrated states to investigate how water content and ultrastructural affect high rate responses of soft tissues.

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