Abstract: A hybrid fiber with tunable stiffness includes a stiff fiber, a soft fiber connected in series to the stiff fiber, and a locking mechanism in contact with the soft fiber and configured to prevent the soft fiber from extending during a locked state, and to allow the soft fiber to extend during an unlocked state. The hybrid fiber has a substantially zero-bending resistance, irrespective of whether the soft fiber is in a locked or an unlocked state.

Abstract: An adhesive-based joint includes a first adherend, a second adherend, an adhesive layer located between the first adherend and the second adherend, and plural strip parts of a low adhesive material embedded into the adhesive layer. The low adhesive material has an adhesion with the adhesive layer lower than an adhesion between the first or second adherend and the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A capacitive strain sensor configured to measure a strain includes a dielectric layer; a first electrode placed on a first face of the dielectric layer; and a second electrode placed on a second face, opposite to the first face, of the dielectric layer. The first electrode is formed of a single-walled carbon nanotube paper, and the single-walled carbon nanotube paper has plural pre-cracks made according to a pattern.

Abstract: A self-standing adhesive layer is configured to join a first adherend to a second adherend, with no additional adhesive. The adhesive layer includes a material that self-stands and is configured to adhere to the first and second adherends; a first surface of the material is opposite to a second surface of the material; a first area of the first surface has a first smoothness and/or morphology and/or adhesion properties; and a second area of the first surface has a second smoothness and/or morphology and/or adhesion properties, different from the first smoothness and/or morphology and/or adhesion properties. The first and second areas form a preset pattern on the first surface.

Abstract: A stretchable electrically conductive coaxial fiber includes a tubular sheath that is made from a thermoplastic elastomer that is an electrical insulator, and an electrically conductive strip located inside the tubular sheath. The conductive strip is buckled inside the tubular sheath to form a ribbon.

Abstract: A bonded composite joint includes a first carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) panel; a second CFRP panel; a corrugated structure placed between the first and second CFRP panels; and an adhesive placed between the first and second CFRP panels and in contact with the corrugated structure. The corrugated structure has a shape defined by a given wavelength ?.

Abstract: A heating element includes first and second blocks made of microfibers of steel, each block having an electrical input and an electrical output, and an electrical connection that connects an electrical output of the first block to an electrical input of the second block. The microfibers have a diameter between 10 and 30 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for bonding two elements, the method including receiving first and second elements, the first element being a composite material; applying a laser-based treatment to a surface of the first element to obtain a treated surface; patterning the treated surface to have plural trenches; applying an adhesive to one of the first and second elements; and joining the first element to the second element so that the adhesive is between the first and second elements.

Abstract: A humidity nonsensitive material based on reduced-graphene oxide (r-GO) and methods of making the same are provided. In an embodiment, the material has a resistance/humidity variation of about ?15% to 15% based on different sintering time or temperature. In an aspect, the resistance variation to humidity can be close to zero or ?0.5% to 0.5%, showing a humidity non sensitivity property. In an embodiment, a humidity nonsensitive material based on the r-GO and carbon nanotube (CNT) composites is provided, wherein the ratio of CNT to r-GO is adjusted. The ratio can be adjusted based on the combined contribution of carbon nanotube (positive resistance variation) and reduced-graphene oxide (negative resistance variation) behaviors.

Abstract: A method for making a copolymer-wrapped nanotube coaxial fiber. The method includes supplying a first dope to a spinning nozzle; supplying a second dope to the spinning nozzle; spinning the first and second dopes as a coaxial fiber into a first wet bath; and placing the coaxial fiber into a second wet bath, which is different from the first bath. The coaxial fiber has a core including parts of the first dope and a sheath including parts of the second dope. Solvent molecules of the second wet bath penetrate the sheath and remove an acid from the core.

Abstract: A method for predicting a structural failure by a strength-criterion-driven peridynamic model is provided. By building a peridynamic model driven by the strength-criterion of structural materials and then applying geometric and material parameters and working conditions of a structure, a life period from a deformation to a complete break of the structure is predicted. The method is of a high reliability, a wide application range, and a high calculation efficiency. The method simulates an initiation and a propagation of multiple cracks on complex structures under complex load conditions until the structure is destroyed.

Abstract: A method for predicting a structural failure by a strength-criterion-driven peridynamic model is provided. By building a peridynamic model driven by the strength-criterion of structural materials and then applying geometric and material parameters and working conditions of a structure, a life period from a deformation to a complete break of the structure is predicted. The method is of a high reliability, a wide application range, and a high calculation efficiency. The method simulates an initiation and a propagation of multiple cracks on complex structures under complex load conditions until the structure is destroyed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of preparing a colloidal solution comprising preparing a salted aqueous solvent and dispersing a graphitic material in the salted aqueous solvent. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe a method of treating a graphitic material comprising agitating a graphitic material in a salted aqueous solvent and removing residual chemical species to obtain a treated graphitic material. Embodiments of the present disclosure also describe a colloidal solution comprising a liquid medium and a treated graphitic material dispersed in the liquid medium sufficient to form a colloidal solution.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a sensor including a substrate, one or more fragmented carbon nanotube compositions embedded in the substrate, wherein the carbon nanotube compositions include one or more carbon nanotubes, and one or more conductive devices affixed to one or more sides of the fragmented carbon nanotube compositions with an affixation agent. Embodiments further provide a method of fabricating a sensor including embedding a carbon nanotube composition in a substrate, wherein the carbon nanotube composition includes one or more carbon nanotubes, and fragmenting the carbon nanotube composition.

Abstract: An electrode includes a polymer based substrate; a polymer based buffer layer, wherein the polymer buffer layer includes a first polymer that is doped with a second polymer and further includes a polar solvent to increase its electrical conductivity; and a conducting film formed on the polymer based buffer layer, the conducting film being transparent to visible light. The electrode is flexible, electrically conductive and transparent to the visible light.

Abstract: A method for making a copolymer-wrapped nanotube coaxial fiber. The method includes supplying a first dope to a spinning nozzle; supplying a second dope to the spinning nozzle; spinning the first and second dopes as a coaxial fiber into a first wet bath; and placing the coaxial fiber into a second wet bath, which is different from the first bath. The coaxial fiber has a core including parts of the first dope and a sheath including parts of the second dope. Solvent molecules of the second wet bath penetrate the sheath and remove an acid from the core.

Abstract: A method for bonding two elements, the method including receiving first and second elements, the first element being a composite material; applying a laser-based treatment to a surface of the first element to obtain a treated surface; patterning the treated surface to have plural trenches; applying an adhesive to one of the first and second elements; and joining the first element to the second element so that the adhesive is between the first and second elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a sensor comprising a substrate, one or more fragmented carbon nanotube compositions embedded in the substrate, wherein the carbon nanotube compositions include one or more carbon nanotubes, and one or more conductive devices affixed to one or more sides of the fragmented carbon nanotube compositions with an affixation agent. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe a method of fabricating a sensor comprising embedding a carbon nanotube composition in a substrate, wherein the carbon nanotube composition includes one or more carbon nanotubes, and fragmenting the carbon nanotube composition.

Abstract: Noncontact sensing components are provided herein, in an aspect, they can be for an electronic device. The noncontact sensing components can contain a semiconductor layer having a r-GO portion and a CNT portion. The noncontact sensing components can be used to detect the presence or movement of a humidity source in the vicinity of the noncontact sensing component. The resistance/humidity response of the component can be based on the combined contribution of carbon nanotube (positive resistance variation) and reduced-graphene oxide (negative resistance variation) behaviors.

Abstract: Noncontact sensing components are provided herein, in an aspect, they can be for an electronic device. The noncontact sensing components can contain a semiconductor layer having a r-GO portion and a CNT portion. The noncontact sensing components can be used to detect the presence or movement of a humidity source in the vicinity of the noncontact sensing component. The resistance/humidity response of the component can be based on the combined contribution of carbon nanotube (positive resistance variation) and reduced-graphene oxide (negative resistance variation) behaviors.