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Erdem Alaca - Mechanics of Soft Matter

Overview

Mechanical material characterization is of paramount importance in scientific and engineering domains. While extensive research has addressed the mechanics of rigid materials, such as metals exhibiting minimal deformation under moderate loads, there is a significant research gap concerning soft materials, which undergo substantial deformation under delicate loading conditions. Precise measurement of minute loads in such materials necessitates the utilization of highly sensitive force sensors. Moreover, securing soft materials within grips poses challenges due to their delicate nature. This study proposes employing digital image correlation, a sophisticated technique for analyzing local strains from sample images coupled with sensitive force sensing, to understand the mechanics of soft materials comprehensively.