Entry Date:
November 25, 2008

Fracture of Silicon: ReaxFF Multi-Paradigm Modeling

Principal Investigator Markus Buehler


A better understanding of the mechanics of biological and natural materials, integrated in complex technological systems helps to combine living and non-living environments to develop sustainable technologies. New materials technologies such as protein-based materials produced by recombinant DNA techniques represent new frontiers in materials design. These questions have high impact in the understanding and design of environmentally friendly technologies and may enhance the quality of life of millions of people.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT provides a most ideal environment to make critical progress in these conglomerated fields at the interfaces of mechanics, physics, biology and chemistry.