Course content

Nanotechnology is able to create many new materials and devices with novel properties for a vast range of applications. Nanomechanics is an important part of applied nanotechnology. This course focuses on the latest scientific developments and discoveries in the field of both computational and experimental nanomechanics, and the study of mechanical properties of materials and structures with size down to nano meter scale. At this level, mechanical properties are intimately related to chemistry, physics and quantum mechanics.

The topics include the forces at macroscopic and atomic levels; elastic constants and crystal structures; deformation and fracture mechanisms at nano-scale; molecular dynamic simulation of nano-crystalline materials; principle of atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope and focused ion beam; principle and theory of nanoindentation technology; size effect at nano-scale. The course consists of hands-on lab work of nanoindentation tests and molecular simulation projects.

Learning outcome

This course aims to provide students with the introduction and background of how to analyze the force and deformation of materials at atomic and molecular level by both computational and experimental methodologies, and link to mechanical properties at micro- and macroscopic level.

Nanomechanics has the following objectives:

Knowledge:
Candidates will learn the knowledge of:
- Basic knowledge of experimental and computational nanomechanics
- Force interaction at different scales
- Potentials and methodology of molecular dynamic simulation
- Principle and theory of nanoindentation technology and nanomechanical testing of pillars and beams
- Principle of atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope and focused ion beam
- Size effect at nano-scale

Skills:
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
- Describe the force interaction at atomic and molecular scale
- Calculate elastic modulus by both experimental and computational methods
- Characterize mechanical properties by nanoindentation test
- Perfrom molecular dynamic simulation to evaluate mechanical properties

General knowledge:
Candidate can:
- Explain deformation and fracture mechanism at nano-scale
- Carry out nanoindentation test on conventional materials and pillars
- Perform mechanical analyses of materials by molecular dynamic simulation

Learning methods and activities

The course will include class lectures by lecturers, invited lectures by guest lecturers, lab work by students under teacher supervision, individual hands-on projects and obligatory exercise. The lectures are in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Øvinger

Recommended previous knowledge

Continumm mechanics, Nanointro.

Course materials

Lecture notes from Jianying He, Senbo Xiao and Zhiliang Zhang , and self-reading materials provided by lecturers.