Workgroup Prof. C.A. Volkert, Nanomechanics

In this project, we will attempt to understand how the geometrical arrangement of interfaces, their composition and structure, and their mechanical properties, can be used to advantage to design reliable and tuneable composite materials based on wood. These studies will be based on our existing experimental and modeling expertise. We will perform in-situ electron microscopy studies on the wood-based materials during loading to understand the mechanisms of deformation and cracking. Micromechanical tests will be used to investigate the local properties within composites and the effect of various surface treatments on the near-surface behavior. We will use finite element modeling to relate component properties to the composite performance.