Academics / Courses / Course DescriptionsMECH_ENG 495: Elasticity of Soft Materials
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Description
ME 495: Elasticity of Soft Materials (Fall 2024)
Instructor: Prof. Junsoo Kim
Email: junsoo.kim@northwestern.edu
Office: Catalysis 326
Office Hours: For 30 mins after each class at the classroom, 1:1 OH by appointment
Class Times: TTh 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM
Location: TBD
Course Description
In this course, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of soft materials. In addition to theoretical concepts, students will be introduced to various experimental methods used to measure the mechanical properties of soft materials.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of solid mechanics and chemistry.
Course outline
- Week 1: Polymers
- Week 2: Entropy
- Week 3: Thermal system, Free energy
- Week 4: Ideal chains, Neo-Hookean model
- Week 5: Boltzmann distribution, Freely-jointed chains
- Week 6: Flory-Rehner model
- Week 7: Finite deformation theory I
- Week 8: Finite deformation theory II
- Week 9: Instabilities
- Week 10: Electric/magnetic fields coupling
- Week 11: Case study
Homework
There are weekly homework assignments during the term, due in one week. The homework aims to digest the concepts taught in the class by giving an opportunity to have hands-on experience.
Final exam
The final exam is an oral exam. The student will receive a problem set 30 mins prior to the oral exam and present the answers to the instructor for 30 mins. The final exam is based on homework.
Grading
Homework (60%), Final exam (40%)
References
Course notes
Advanced Elasticity by Zhigang Suo
Mechanics of soft matter by Ken Shull
Books
Thermodynamics by Zhigang Suo
Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Polymers by Rui Huang, Zhigang Suo
Polymer Physics by M. Rubinstein, Ralph H. Colby