Computational design of a biomimetic microvascular material


Figure 1

As part of a large group involving researchers in solid and fluid mechanics, materials science and chemistry, we are developing the computational tools to design the optimum microvascular network to achieve a certain set of goals, such as keeping the maximum temperature below a certain level in a self-cooling material, or the ability to heal autonomically one or more cracks of certain sizes in the self-healing system. A key aspect of this project is that we will have the ability of manufacture and test the various designs (see below).


The following figures are taken from an experimental feasibility study performed by former AE PhD student D. Therriault and current TAM PhD student K. Toohie in collaboration with Professors N. Sottos (TAM), White (AE) and Lewis (MatSE).

Examples of 3D microvascular network in an epoxy composite


Application of the microvascular network concept to the autonomic healing of a coating. Microcracks are created in the coating using a four-point bend loading set-up (top left). The right figure shows the healing agent oozing out from the microvascular network located below the coating. The lower left figure presents a cross-section (side view) of the coating and the substrate, and shows how cracks originating in the coating are attracted by the microvascular network present in the substrate.


Preliminary assessment of autonomic healing in theself-healing coating system. The left figure shows the stress (or load) versus displacement curve measured during the four point bedn experiment in the absence of self healing. The blue curve corresponds to the original response of the system, with the load drops corresponding to the creation of one or more cracks in the coating. In the absence of self-healing, the reloading curve (red) has a higher compliance (lower slope) than the original curve. The measured response is evry different in the self-healing case where, upon unloading and reloading (after a 24 healing period), the reloading curve (red curve) is on top of the initial "undamaged" blue curve.