Atomistic Simulation of Interface Fracture in Bilayer Material Systems
Structural innovations often use multilayer material systems consisting of substrates and interfaces. Interface performance and related failures in such layered systems can play a critical role in overall safety-especially when initial defects are present at the interfaces or in the substrates. Fracture of the substrate materials or interfaces under various mechanical and environmental effects essentially involves atomistic deformation and breaking of chemical bonds between molecules. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation allows researchers and engineers to study the fracture process in multilayered material systems at the microscopic level. The objective of this research is to use MD simulation to understand interface fracture behavior in bilayer material systems (i.e. crack initiation and propagation direction) and the effects of material and interface properties. Motivated by the safety assessment of complex structural systems involving layers of different polymeric and concrete material properties, this study is conducted in collaboration with Assistant Professor Markus J. Buehler of the Laboratory of Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.