Mechanics of Soft Materials

3-0-9 units · Graduate

Covers a number of fundamental topics in the emerging field of soft and active materials, including polymer mechanics and physics, poroelasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanics of electro-magneto-active and other responsive polymers. Lectures, recitations, and experiments elucidate the basic mechanical and thermodynamic principles underlying soft and active materials. Develops an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms for designing soft materials that possess extraordinary properties, such as stretchable, tough, strong, resilient, adhesive and responsive to external stimuli, from molecular to bulk scales.