The elastic properties of micrometer-sized hollow colloidal particles obtained by emulsion templating are probed by nanoindentation measurements in which point forces are applied to solvent-filled particles supported on a flat substrate. We show that the shells respond linearly up to forces of 7-21 nN, where the indentation becomes of the order of the shell thickness (20-40 nm). In the linear r...

Bronchograms were performed using finely particulate lead on emphysematous lungs obtained at necropsy. X-ray films were taken of these lungs at distending pressures of 0, 5, 10, and 20 cm H(2)O. The volumes of individual centrilobular emphysematous spaces were calculated at each distending pressure from measurements made on these bronchograms and pressure-volume curves were constructed for each...

We construct small-world spring networks based on a one-dimensional chain and study its static and quasistatic behavior with respect to external forces. Regular bonds and shortcuts are assigned linear springs of constant k and k', respectively. In our models, shortcuts can only stand extensions less than deltac beyond which they are removed from the network. First we consider the simple cases o...

Nacre has recently attracted the attention of the research community. This biocomposite has exceptional strength and toughness with respect the materials it is made of. The design of nano and micro composite inspired from nacre requires a deep understanding of nacre microstructure and mechanical properties. In this work, the elastic properties of aragonite tablets in nacre were determined using...

We describe studies of the elastic properties and frictional characteristics of graphene samples of varying thickness using an atomic force microscope. For tensile testing, graphene is suspended over micron-sized circular holes and indented by atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. Fitting of the forcedisplacement curves yields the prestress and elastic stiffness, while comparison of the breaking ...

The mechanical behaviour of a new type of open-cell foam made by a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process was investigated. Foams made by the TIPS process are characterized by cell sizes which are 10-100 times smaller than conventional foam materials. In this work, the linear elastic modulus of these foams in dynamic tension/compression was measured. A comparison was made with the th...

Graphene is an ultimate membrane that mixes both flexibility and mechanical strength, together with many other remarkable properties. A good knowledge of the elastic properties of graphene is prerequisite to any practical application of it in nanoscopic devices. Although this two-dimensional material is only one atom thick, continuous-medium elasticity can be applied as long as the deformations...

— Recent progress in approaches to determine the elastic constants of solids starting from the microscopic particle interactions is reviewed. On the theoretical side, density functional theory approaches are discussed and compared to more classical ones using the actual pair potentials. On the experimental side, video microscopy has been introduced to measure the elastic constants in colloidal ...

By combining molecular dynamics simulations and analytical arguments, we investigate the elastic properties of charged lipid bilayers. We show that electrostatic interactions between the head groups can lead to solidification of the lipid bilayer that would otherwise be in a liquid state if the charges were absent. All elastic parameters of the bilayer such as the bending rigidity κ and the two...

Silicon is the most important material for the electronics industry. Its unique electronic, optoelectronic, thermal, and mechanical properties have made Si an ideal choice for integrated circuits, memory devices, solar cells, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Considering onedimensional (1D) nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires, and ZnO nanowires/nanobelts are the three pr...