Interdisciplinary Research Program Computational Tools for the Atomic/Continuum Interface: Nanometer to Millimeter Scale Aircraft

Prospective Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows from engineering, physics and mathematics with outstanding records are encouraged to apply for a highly interdisciplinary basic research program on the forefront of science and engineering. The research concerns the development of new concepts for flight at nanometer to millimeter scale, with applications to atmospheric flight and to the design of vehicles for microsurgery. The general framework for this research is the propulsion of small vehicles by the motion of active materials - ferroelectric, magnetostrictive and shape memory materials - configured as deformable tubes, flaps or flagella and powered by a remotely applied electromagnetic field. The research is based in scientific computation, with additional opportunities in mathematical modeling and laboratory research. Specific research areas include:

1. Fluid mechanics and aerodynamics at nanometer to millimeter scale
2. Phase transformations and the behavior of active materials at small scales
3. Computational methods for the passage from atomic to continuum scales
4. The synthesis of active materials by molecular beam epitaxy
5. The design of micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) systems for small scale flight

The participants with a brief summary of their fields are listed below. Interested persons are encouraged to contact any of the participants by e-mail for further information and application materials. For general information on the project, contact Prof. R.D. James, james@aem.umn.edu.

• Kaushik Bhattacharya
• Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
  Shape memory materials, active thin films, continuum mechanics of materials.
  bhatta@its.caltech.edu.

• Iain D. Boyd
• Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan
  Computational Fluid Dynamics at the atomic continuum interface, Monte Carlo methods.
  iainboyd@engin.umich.edu.

• Graham V. Candler
• Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota
  Computational Fluid Dynamics at the continuum/atomic interface aerodynamics.
  candler@aem.umn.edu.

• Richard D. James
• Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota
  Shape memory and magnetostrictive materials, active thin films, mathematical methods for change-of-scale.
  james@aem.umn.edu.

• Mitchell Luskin
• School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota
  Computational materials science, microstructure, phase transformations, MEMS devices.
  luskin@math.umn.edu.

• Chris J. Palmstrom
• Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota
  MBE of thin films of microelectronic, magnetic and active materials.
  palms001@gold.tc.umn.edu.

• Karin M. Rabe
• Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
  Density Functional Theory predictions of atomic level structural properties of active materials, effective Hamiltonians for ferroelectrics and related materials.
  rabe@physics.rutgers.edu.

Facilities for the research include a dedicated multiprocessor machine for simulation, advanced molecular beam epitaxial system for the growth of thin films, clean room facilities for the analysis and patterning of thin films.

This research is supported by the Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program (MURI), managed by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

This website supported by Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota