Francois Barthelat

Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Francois Barthelat:
Can seashells, fish fins and other biological materials inspire better engineering materials for the future?

Abstract: Current progress in materials science allows us to manipulate the chemistry and micro-architecture of engineering materials towards desired properties. Still, no matter how skilled we are at these techniques, we cannot compete with the advanced materials made by nature for eons. Can nature teach us new tricks to improve the design and capabilities of engineering materials? The answer is a resounding yes and interestingly, some of these tricks are quite counterintuitive.

In this webinar, Professor Francois Barthelat will discuss how patterns of weak regions within mollusk shells and teeth actually makes these materials extremely tough - which inspired his group to create a new type of toughened glass. He will also demonstrate how smaller is not necessarily stronger for fish scales, which inspired new flexible protective gloves, and how the complex structure and mechanics of fish fins could inspire the next generation of soft robotic materials.

Bio: After obtaining his PhD from Northwestern University in 2006, Professor Barthelat founded the Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration at McGill University to explore key structures and mechanisms in natural materials, and to develop new bioinspired, high-performance materials. In 2019 he moved his research activities to CU Boulder. His methods combine theoretical mechanics, numerical modeling, optimization, fabrication and experimental mechanics. Barthelat and his students have discovered new deformation and fracture mechanisms in biological materials including bone, mollusk shells and fish scales. Recently they have also started to explore the mechanics of fish fins as inspiration for next generation morphing materials, and of granular assembly as a pathway to high-performance engineering materials. In parallel, they have pioneered new bioinspired materials designs and innovative material fabrication methods which they are now implementing in engineering applications.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffzW3fZIC1E]
 

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The Rocky Mountain Seminar Series provides CU Boulder faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to hear from researchers across disciplines from various institutions.

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The 2021-22 Distinguished Seminar Series gives students, faculty and others the opportunity to learn from seven impressive mechanical engineering thought-leaders. This year, we welcome Jeff Moehlis, Fawwaz Habbal, Horacio Espinosa, Wei Chen, David Erickson, Perla Balbuena and Robert Full from institutions across the nation. They will discuss topics ranging across various fields. 

This series begins Thursday, Sept. 2 and runs through Thursday, Dec. 9. Learn more about this semester's lineup below.

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Professor Victor M. Bright of the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering delivered his Distinguished Research Lecture “Microscale Sensors and Machines” on November 2, 2021. In this talk, Professor Bright gave an overview of the history of microscale sensors and micromachines, and the contributions of his research.

The Distinguished Research Lectureship is among the most esteemed honors bestowed by the faculty upon a faculty member at the University of Colorado Boulder. Each year, the  requests nominations from faculty for the Distinguished Research Lectureship, and a faculty review panel recommends recipients.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ql9l8UVVzw]

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The Rocky Mountain Seminar Series provides CU Boulder faculty, staff and students with the opportunity to hear from researchers across disciplines from various institutions.

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The 2019-20 Distinguished Seminar Series enables an opportunity for students and faculty among others to learn from six impressive mechanical engineering thought-leaders. This year, we welcome Harsha Chelliah, Bruce Dunn, Patricia Falcone, Krishna Garikipati, Laura Schaefer, and Jay Turner from institutions across the nation. They will discuss topics ranging across fields. 

This series begins Friday, September 6th and runs through Friday, November 15th. All seminars are held from 9 to 9:50 AM in ECCR 265 with refreshments provided. Learn more about our fantastic lineup of speakers below!

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The 2018-19 Distinguished Seminar Series enables an opportunity for students and faculty among others to learn from six impressive mechanical engineering thought-leaders. This year, we welcome Ellen Arruda, Mark Campbell, Dennis Discher, Harriet Nembhard, David Y.H. Pui, and Alice White from institutions across the nation. They will discuss topics ranging from robotics in healthcare to nanoscale 3D printing and beyond.  

This series begins Friday, September 14th and runs through Friday, November 30th. All seminars are held from 10AM to 11AM at varying locations with refreshments provided.

Learn more about our fantastic lineup of speakers below.

Harriet Nembhard, PhD

Oregon State University
Professor & School Head of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering

Date: Friday, September 14
Location: ECCS 1B28

Alice White, PhD

Boston University
Professor & Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering

Date: Friday, September 21
Location: ECCS 1B28

Mark Campbell, PhD

Cornell University
S.C. Thomas Sze Director of the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, John A. Mellowes '60 Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Date: Friday, October 12
Location: ECCS 1B28

Dennis Discher, PhD

University of Pennsylvania
Robert D. Bent Chaired Professor, Director of NCI Phys Sci Oncology Center

Date: Friday, November 2
Location: Benson Earth Sciences Rm 180

David Y.H. Pui, PhD

University of Minnesota
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, LM Fingerson/TSI Inc. Chair in Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Particle Technology Laboratory and the Center for Filtration Research

Date: Friday, November 16
Location: ECCS 1B28

View Dr. Pui's Abstract and Bio

Ellen Arruda, PhD

University of Michigan
Maria Comninou Collegiate Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering

Date: Friday, November 30
Location: ECCS 1B28

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