Imagine seeing metal-penetrating bullets stopped by a substance less than an inch thick but stronger than steel. Visualize a bomb explosion inside a building, but the blast is practically neutralized by flexible outer walls that contain the spread of debris.<\/p>\n
These are just two examples of the groundbreaking research under way in the University of Mississippi\u2019s Nano Infrastructure Research Group, or NIRG, where School of Engineering scientists are developing bio-inspired nanomaterials to improve resilience of the nation\u2019s infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Ahmed Al-Ostaz, professor of civil engineering and director of the research team; and collaborators Alex Cheng, dean of the School of Engineering; A.M. Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering; and Hunain Alkhateb, assistant professor of civil engineering; were awarded a grant from NASA to also design new materials for spacecraft that will be able to withstand impacts of extremely fast-moving space debris, meteoroids and subatomic particles.<\/p>\n
The three-year project, \u201cHyper Velocity Impact Environmental Resistant and Self-Healing Nanomaterials for Space Applications,\u201d is aimed at exploring the revolutionary properties of bio-inspired and nano-enhanced multifunctional nanocomposites for ultra-lightweight space structural applications under extreme environments and loading conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our laboratory we design new materials and study the process of existing materials that can withstand extreme environments and improve the resilience of our nation\u2019s infrastructure against man-made threats (such as bomb blasts, fire or projectiles) and natural disasters (tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes,\u201d Al-Ostaz said. \u201cWe are also preparing future engineers and scientists to better understand and meet both today\u2019s needs and tomorrow\u2019s challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the past five years, under Cheng\u2019s leadership, NIRG researchers have studied materials at extreme sizes (from nano-scale to full structures), extreme distances (from oil and gas shales deep in the ground to space applications, including the International Space Station), extreme loading rates (from static blast to ballistic to hypervelocity impact), extreme temperatures (from freezing to boiling) and extreme times (from a femtosecond \u2013 or one quadrillionth of a second \u2013 to years).<\/p>\n
\u201cThese materials are often referred to as multifunctional materials,\u201d Alkhateb said. \u201cThey merge modeling, designing and manufacturing new materials with actual testing of these products in simulated environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Examples include materials that can resist blast loading with improved fire performance, and new materials and structures to enhance the performance of New Orleans\u2019 levees during extreme hurricane seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne project\u2019s outcome was the designing of new materials that can resist a 50-caliber bullet by self-sealing after impact,\u201d Al-Ostaz said. \u201cThis has potential applications for the hazmat transportation industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research results have been published in major academic journals and technical reports.<\/p>\n
\u201cNIRG has established a niche of prominence in the national nanotechnology scene with our capabilities to model, design, build and test new nanomaterials, especially drawing inspiration from the abundant, low-cost nanomaterials of nature,\u201d Cheng said.<\/p>\n
Grants for NIRG projects have come from the Office of Naval Research, Department of Homeland Security, Mississippi Space Grant Consortium and North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University\/U.S. Army. In just the last three years, the team has received about $8 million to support its research.<\/p>\n
The late theoretical physicist Richard P. Feynman\u2019s vision of a powerful and general nanotechnology driven by nano-machines that build with atom-by-atom control promises great opportunities and, if abused, great dangers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew classes of nanomaterials \u2013 such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowires and quantum dots \u2013 are being assembled atom-by-atom, with various high-tech applications in mind: electronics, biomedicine, energy, environment and so forth,\u201d Al-Ostaz said. \u201cHowever, these materials are still very expensive and can only be produced at a relatively small quantity.\u201d<\/p>\n
To help protect the nation\u2019s critical infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, tunnels, transportation systems, pipelines, power transmission and communication systems, against natural and man-made threats, officials need nanomaterials that can be produced at low cost and in huge quantities.<\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, not all nanomaterials are man-made and expensive,\u201d Al-Ostaz said. \u201cThere are abundant, naturally occurring and low-cost materials that are at or near nano size, such as nano clay, volcanic and fly ash, cellulose nano whiskers and many carbon- or silica-based minerals.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"