Abstract: A reinforcing bar comprising a core is provided. The core comprises ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers aligned in an axial direction and a polyethylene matrix. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers are bound in the polyethylene matrix. A shell comprising ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene tape surrounds the core in a radial dimension.

Abstract: A reinforcing bar comprising a core is provided. The core comprises ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers aligned in an axial direction and a polyethylene matrix. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers are bound in the polyethylene matrix. A shell comprising ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene tape surrounds the core in a radial dimension.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula defined by [M1-xAlx(OH)2](A)x.mH2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles further have an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photonic structure on a surface of a solid substrate including a first material comprises depositing a deformable layer of the first material onto the surface of the solid substrate, embossing the deformable layer with a mold bear a photonic structure pattern and solidifying the deformable layer to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate with the mold in place to form permanent photonic structures in the solidified layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: A photonic displacement sensor comprises a photonic fiber including a) a core section having a first band gap aligned along an extended longitudinal axis, and b) a cladding section surrounding the core section having a second band gap. The first band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a first wavelength that is directed along the longitudinal axis, and the second band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a second wavelength that is directed transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein displacement is detected based on a shift in at least one of the first and second band gap of the photonic fiber, enabling an intensity of radiation to be detected that is in proportion to the displacement in the photonic fiber.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula defined by [M1-xAlx(OH)2](A)x.mH2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles further have an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle.

Abstract: A photonic displacement sensor comprises a photonic fiber including a) a core section having a first band gap aligned along an extended longitudinal axis, and b) a cladding section surrounding the core section having a second band gap. The first band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a first wavelength that is directed along the longitudinal axis, and the second band gap is adapted to block a spectral band of radiation centered on a second wavelength that is directed transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein displacement is detected based on a shift in at least one of the first and second band gap of the photonic fiber, enabling an intensity of radiation to be detected that is in proportion to the displacement in the photonic fiber.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH)3 or Al2O3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH)2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photonic structure on a surface of a solid substrate including a first material comprises depositing a deformable layer of the first material onto the surface of the solid substrate, embossing the deformable layer with a mold bear a photonic structure pattern and solidifying the deformable layer to be integral with the surface of the solid substrate with the mold in place to form permanent photonic structures in the solidified layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measureable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to composite photonic materials used to design structures and detecting material deformation for the purpose of monitoring structural health of physical structures. According to one aspect, a composite structure is provided that includes a base material, an optical diffraction grating and one or more fluorophore materials constructed such that localized perturbations create a measurable change in the structure's diffraction pattern. An inspection device is also provided that is configured to detect perturbations in the composite structure. The inspection device is configured to emit an inspecting radiation into the structure and capture the refracted radiation and measure the change in the diffraction pattern and quantify the perturbation based on the wavelength and the angular information for the diffracted radiation.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The method comprises adding to an aqueous solution a first precursor and a second precursor to form an initial mixture, where the first precursor is Al(OH)3 or Al2O3, the second precursor is a hydroxide M(OH)2 or an oxide MO, where M is a metal of oxidation state +2; and the initial mixture has a M/Al molar ratio of from 1 to 5. The method also comprises adding to the initial mixture an amount of adamantane to form a reaction mixture having an Al/adamantane molar ratio of from 0.5 to 2; and heating the reaction mixture to produce adamantane-intercalated LDH particles, where the adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have aspect ratios greater than 100.