MRI: Acquisition of a Hyper-Frequency Viscoelastic Spectroscopy Instrument for Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research and Education

Franklin W. Olin College Of Engineering, Needham MA

Investigators

Abstract

This NSF MRI award funds the acquisition of a hyper-frequency viscoelastic spectroscopy (HFVS) instrument for materials characterization. It is especially well suited for measuring viscoelastic properties of biological tissues and artificial polymers because it can make non-contacting, non-destructive measurements on small-sized samples over a wide excitation frequency range. The HFVS instrument will be immediately used in five current research projects: 1) computational simulation of traumatic brain injury; 2) determining the role of active and passive forces in microvascular network formation; 3) dynamic characterization of underactuated legged locomotion, 4) design and fabrication of perching landing gear for microaerial vehicles, and 5) characterization of a biodegradable, biocompatible co-polymer. The most significant contribution resulting from use of the instrument on each project is: 1) constitutive models for human brain tissue at high strain rates appropriate for blast-response simulation and analysis; 2) characterization of a new extra-cellular matrix biomimetics for studying the effects of both active and passive mechanical environments on cells, 3) material-tunable, dynamic models of underactuated legged locomotion for milli-scale robots, 4) tunable-stiffness and ? damping, polymer fabrication processes for perching landing gear mechanisms, and 5) manufacturing processes for controlling the properties of a class of environmentally-friendly, copolymers for medical applications. In addition to supporting ongoing research, the instrument will enable future research involving related materials and will open new research areas in bioengineering, material science, and mechanical engineering The HFVS instrument will substantially enhance metrology capabilities at Olin College enabling the characterization of materials ranging in stiffness from very compliant, nearly liquid (e.g., gels) to very rigid by quantitative measurement of mechanical stiffness and energy dissipation related properties. The characterization of materials plays an integral part in a wide range of research problems especially those including computer simulations and the custom design and manufacturing of components or structures involving the given materials. The acquisition of a HFVS instrument will have significant positive impact on Olin College?s research capability, undergraduate research training efforts, and curriculum. The instrument will directly support the training and education of undergraduates at Olin College where approximately 45% of students and 55% of the bioengineering, material science, and mechanical engineering majors are women. Research training is incorporated throughout the curriculum directly into project-based and laboratory-based coursework. Students have numerous individual research opportunities to work with faculty during the academic year and in the summer. The instrument will be specifically utilized in a number of courses and will be particularly useful in the senior-year, engineering capstone course in which student teams tackle industry-sponsored projects.