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Soft Matter Incubator

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Author: Yunker, Peter J. ×

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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Why is Structural Hierarchy So Prevalent in Biological Materials?
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-04-19) Michel, Jonathan ; Yunker, Peter J.
    Structural hierarchy, in which materials possess distinct features on multiple length scales, is ubiquitous in nature. Many biological materials, such as bone, cellulose, and muscle, have as many as ten hierarchical levels. While structural hierarchy confers many mechanical advantages, including improved toughness and economy of material, it also presents a problem as each hierarchical level substantially increases the amount of information necessary for proper assembly. This seems to conflict with the broad prevalence of naturally occurring hierarchical structures. At the present, there is no general framework for understanding the interplay between structures on disparate length scales; such a framework is a critical tool for accounting for the robustness of hierarchical materials to defects. Here, we use simulations and experiments to validate a generalized model for the tensile stiffness of hierarchical, stretching-stabilized networks with a nested, dilute hexagonal lattice structure, and demonstrate that the stiffness of such networks becomes less sensitive to errors in assembly with additional levels of hierarchy. Following seminal work by Maxwell and others on criteria for stiff frames, we extend the concept of connectivity in network mechanics, and find a similar dependence of material stiffness upon each hierarchical level. More broadly, this work helps account for the success of hierarchical, filamentous materials in biology and materials design, and offers a heuristic for ensuring that desired material properties are achieved within the required tolerance.
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    Cellular Packing, Mechanical Stress and the Evolution of Multicellularity
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-04-19) Jacobeen, Shane ; Brandys, Colin G. ; Graba, Elyes C. ; Pentz, Jennifer T. ; Ratcliff, William C. ; Yunker, Peter J.
    The evolution of multicellularity set the stage for sustained increases in organismal complexity. However, a fundamental aspect of this transition remains largely unknown: how do simple clusters of cells evolve increased size when confronted by forces capable of breaking intracellular bonds? Here we show that multicellular snowflake yeast clusters fracture due to crowding-induced mechanical stress. Over seven weeks (~291 generations) of daily selection for large size, snowflake clusters evolve to increase their radius 1.7-fold by reducing the accumulation of internal stress. During this period, cells within the clusters evolve to be more elongated, concomitant with a decrease in the cellular volume fraction of the clusters. The associated increase in free space reduces the internal stress caused by cellular growth, thus delaying fracture and increasing cluster size. This work demonstrates how readily natural selection finds simple, physical solutions to spatial constraints that limit the evolution of group size—a fundamental step in the evolution of multicellularity.
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    Symposium on Soft Matter Forefronts - Welcome
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2018-04-18) Alexeev, Alexander ; Brettmann, Blair ; Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto ; Matsumoto, Elisabetta A. ; Rocklin, D. Zeb ; Yunker, Peter J.
    The symposium aims to familiarize attendees with the soft-matter research and expertise at Georgia Tech and to demonstrate the role Georgia Tech plays in influencing and advancing the field.