Gianola, Daniel S

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Publication
    Robust Scaling of Strength and Elastic Constants and Universal Cooperativity in Disordered Colloidal Micropillars
    (2014-12-23) Strickland, Daniel J; Lee, Daeyeon; Huang, Yun-Ru; Gianola, Daniel S
    We study the uniaxial compressive behavior of disordered colloidal free-standing micropillars composed of a bidisperse mixture of 3- and 6-μm polystyrene particles. Mechanical annealing of confined pillars enables variation of the packing fraction across the phase space of colloidal glasses. The measured normalized strengths and elastic moduli of the annealed freestanding micropillars span almost three orders of magnitude despite similar plastic morphology governed by shear banding. We measure a robust correlation between ultimate strengths and elastic constants that is invariant to relative humidity, implying a critical strain of ∼0.01 that is strikingly similar to that observed in metallic glasses (MGs) [Johnson WL, Samwer K (2005) Phys Rev Lett 95:195501] and suggestive of a universal mode of cooperative plastic deformation. We estimate the characteristic strain of the underlying cooperative plastic event by considering the energy necessary to create an Eshelby-like ellipsoidal inclusion in an elastic matrix. We find that the characteristic strain is similar to that found in experiments and simulations of other disordered solids with distinct bonding and particle sizes, suggesting a universal criterion for the elastic to plastic transition in glassy materials with the capacity for finite plastic flow.
  • Publication
    The Role of Confinement on Stress-Driven Grain Boundary Motion in Nanocrystalline Aluminum Thin Films
    (2012-12-21) Gianola, Daniel S; Farkas, Diana; Gamarra, Martin; He, Mo-rigen
    3D molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the role of microstructural confinement on room temperature stress-driven grain boundary (GB) motion for a general population of GBs in nanocrystalline Al thin films. Detailed analysis and comparison with experimental results reveal how coupled GB migration and GB sliding are manifested in realistic nanoscale networks of GBs. The proximity of free surfaces to GBs plays a significant role in their mobility and results in unique surface topography evolution. We highlight the effects of microstructural features, such as triple junctions, as constraints to otherwise uninhibited GB motion. We also study the pinning effects of impurities segregated to GBs that hinder their motion. Finally, the implications of GB motion as a deformation mechanism governing the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline materials are discussed.
  • Publication
    In Situ Nanomechanical Testing in Focused Ion Beam and Scanning Electron Microscopes
    (2011-06-03) Gianola, Daniel S; Sedlmayr, Andreas; Mönig, Reiner; Volkert, Cynthia A.; Major, Ryan C.; Cyrankowski, Edward; Asif, S.A. Syed; Warren, Oden L.; Kraft, Oliver
    The recent interest in size-dependent deformation of micro- and nanoscale materials has paralleled both technological miniaturization and advancements in imaging and small-scale mechanical testing methods. Here we describe a quantitative in situ nanomechanical testing approach adapted to a dualbeam focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope. A transducer based on a three-plate capacitor system is used for high-fidelity force and displacement measurements. Specimen manipulation, transfer, and alignment are performed using a manipulator, independently controlled positioners, and the focused ion beam. Gripping of specimens is achieved using electron-beam assisted Pt-organic deposition. Local strain measurements are obtained using digital image correlation of electron images taken during testing. Examples showing results for tensile testing of single-crystalline metallic nanowires and compression of nanoporous Au pillars will be presented in the context of size effects on mechanical behavior and highlight some of the challenges of conducting nanomechanical testing in vacuum environments.
  • Publication
    Lattice Anharmonicity in Defect-Free Pd Nanowhiskers
    (2012-09-18) Chen, Lisa Y; Richter, Gunther; Sullivan, John P; Gianola, Daniel S
    We have investigated anharmonic behavior of Pd by applying systematic nanoscale tensile testing to near defect-free nanowhiskers offering a large range of elastic strain. We measured size-dependent deviations from bulk elastic behavior in nanowhiskers with diameters as small as ∼30  nm. In addition to size-dependent variations in Young’s modulus in the small strain limit, we measured nonlinear elasticity at strains above ∼1%. Both phenomena are attributed to higher-order elasticity in the bulklike core upon being biased from its equilibrium configuration due to the role of surface stresses in small volumes. Quantification of the size-dependent second- and third-order elastic moduli allows for calculation of intrinsic material nonlinearity parameters, e.g., δ. Comparison of the size-independent values of δ in our nanowhiskers with studies on bulk fcc metals lends further insight into the role of length scales on both elastic and plastic mechanical behavior.
  • Publication
    Extremely Low Drift of Resistance and Threshold Voltage in Amorphous Phase Change Nanowire Devices
    (2010-06-04) Jung, Yeonwoong; Gianola, Daniel S; Mitra, Mukut; Agarwal, Ritesh
    Time-dependent drift of resistance and threshold voltage in phase change memory (PCM) devices is of concern as it leads to data loss. Electrical drift in amorphous chalcogenides has been argued to be either due to electronic or stress relaxation mechanisms. Here we show that drift in amorphized Ge2Sb2Te5 nanowires with exposed surfaces is extremely low in comparison to thin-film devices. However, drift in stressed nanowires embedded under dielectric films is comparable to thin-films. Our results shows that drift in PCM is due to stress relaxation and will help in understanding and controlling drift in PCM devices.