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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 57: Networks: From Topology to Dynamics II (joint session DY/SOE)

DY 57.1: Invited Talk

Friday, March 22, 2024, 09:30–10:00, BH-N 128

A simulation approach for the emerging mechanical properties of multi-network systems — •Kirsten Martens — CNRS & Univ. Grenoble Alpes

Network-forming materials are ubiquitous, from industrial products (tires, food, cosmetics...) to living organisms (e.g. in the cytoskeleton). Network-based materials often possess remarkable properties, such as high reversible deformability, light weight, optical transparency. Understanding the mechanical properties of multi-array gels at the molecular scale is essential to improve the quality of these new macromolecular architectures.

In this talk I will present a coarse grained numerical model for elastomer materials to address the question how these systems deform and fracture. Our double networks are characterised by a first pre-streched network that is close to failure coupled to a second floppy one that only breaks at later stages. We show that depending on the preparation protocol we can control the ductility of the double network depending on the volume fraction of the second network. Further we have direct access to the local bond breaking dynamics. We show that in single networks bond breaking events are strongly correlated in space and lead to brittle failure, whereas in double networks the damage is more delocalised promoting ductile failure. We show that this is the effect of a two stage process that can be controlled by the densities in the initial preparation protocol of the double network.

Keywords: Polymer physics; Mechanical properties; Statistical physics; Disordered systems; Multi-scale material modeling