Institute of Mechanics

A generalized Gurson model for loaded ‘voids’

Abstract The Gurson model successfully solves the problem of void damage within a finite homogeneous matrix. Yet, it is inherently incapable of describing scenarios where the matrix contains inclusions that may trigger the void formation. In this work, we generalize the Gurson mo...

Aero‐breakup of droplets: Recent progress and outlook

Abstract Aero‐breakup of droplets is a classic academic topic in fluid mechanics that describes the process of droplets breaking into multiple smaller ones or fine mists in an air flow. An in‐depth understanding of the aero‐breakup of liquid droplets is essential for the applicat...

Modulating Activation Strain Thresholds in Mechanochromic Polymers through the Prestretching Strategy

Abstract Mechanochromic polymers provide a powerful tool for visualizing stress distribution and signaling mechanical damage through force-induced optical responses. However, their practical applications are often restricted by the relatively high activation strain threshold, whi...

Stabilizing Water Molecules in Hydrogel Electrolytes Enables 2.8 V‐Class Purely Aqueous Zn–Li Hybrid Batteries

ABSTRACT Currently, reported high‐voltage aqueous zinc batteries generally operate below 2.0 V. Achieving a discharge plateau/average operating voltage exceeding 2.0 V typically requires charging voltages above 2.5 V; however, the limited electrochemical stability of water molecu...

Effects of Upstream Porous Treatments on the Hydrodynamic and Hydroacoustic Performances of a Hydrofoil

This paper presents numerical studies on the effects of upstream porous treatments on the hydrodynamic and hydroacoustic performances of a hydrofoil. The inflow velocity is 5 m/s and the chord-based Reynolds number is 2.5 × 107. A rapid turbulent boundary layer (TBL) noise predic...

Testing the strong equivalence principle with multimessenger binary neutron star mergers

Abstract The constancy of the gravitational constant G is a cornerstone of the strong equivalence principle and of general relativity, yet its possible temporal variation remains a key target in tests of fundamental physics. Gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy, especially when comb...

Evaluation of gasification agent strategies for underground coal gasification in post-ECBM reservoirs: A coupled thermo-hydro-chemical numerical simulation approach

Implementing underground coal gasification (UCG) in post-ECBM reservoirs, namely coal reservoirs after CO 2 -enhanced coalbed methane (CO 2 -ECBM) recovery, provides a potential pathway for residual energy recovery. However, the pre-existing CO 2 -rich environment alters reservoi...

Shaping safety climate of construction workgroups: the role of leader safety commitment, safety management actions and job autonomy

Purpose Drawing on the Signaling Theory, this study investigates how and when a leader's psychological safety commitment translates into a positive group safety climate. We propose a moderated mediation model where leader safety management actions act as the mediator, and job aut...

3D cell-matrix mechanical interaction models for cancer invasion

Cancer cells breach the extracellular matrix (ECM) through both protease-mediated degradation and force-driven physical remodeling, yet most invasion studies still rely on biochemical readouts that overlook how cells mechanically reorganize their surroundings. Here, we introduce...

Rapid non-destructive mineral identification of geo-energy reservoirs using macro-lens infrared thermal imaging

Abstract Rapid and non-destructive mineral identification is essential for understanding fluid-rock interactions and reservoir heterogeneity in deep tight reservoirs. Existing methods are still limited by complex sample preparation, low efficiency, high cost, or limited in-situ a...

Enterotype signatures of multi-stressor exposure inform conservation strategies for mountain bumblebees of the subgenus Pyrobombus

Bees often exhibit gut microbiome-defined enterotypes impacting their health and pollination services. Bumblebees, keystone pollinators in montane and agriculture ecosystems, face significant population declines might linked to gut parasites, pathogens, and antibiotic exposure; h...

Hypervision: An on-chip hyperspectral microsystem for online video-rate computational imaging

In this work, we tackled the long-standing challenge of the massive computation for hyperspectral imaging that is required to reconstruct and process large-volume spatial-spectral data cubes. Specifically, we designed a hardware accelerator, fabricated as a neural processing unit...

Torsional wake stiffness and the dynamic response of tethered tandem cylinders in the subcritical and critical regimes

This study experimentally investigates the stationary and dynamic characteristics of a tandem cylinder configuration in which the downstream cylinder is confined to rotate about a pivot point centered at a fixed upstream cylinder with a specified cylinder-to-cylinder spacing. Res...

Mechanistic basis of LolDF-mediated lipoprotein transport in Acinetobacter

Lipoprotein trafficking is essential for Gram-negative bacteria to maintain the outer membrane, a permeability barrier critical for survival and antibiotic resistance. While most bacteria employ the canonical LolCDE transporter, Acinetobacter utilizes a noncanonical LolDF system...

A superelastic titanium alloy showing nearly temperature-independent high strength and elastic modulus

Lightweight superelastic alloys with temperature-insensitive properties are critical for deep-space exploration devices, yet their development is hindered by the challenge of simultaneously balancing strength, recoverable strain, and temperature sensitivity. Here, we overcome the...