Abstract: Some molecules change shape upon receiving photons of certain frequencies, but here we study lightinduced deformation in ordinary dielectrics with no special optical effects. All dielectrics deform in response to light of ...

Abstract: In a hydrocarbon well, cement fills the annular gap between two steel casings or between a steel casing and rock formation, forming a sheath that isolates fluids in different zones of the well. For a well as long as several ...

Abstract: A plastic liquid such as toothpaste and butter deforms like an elastic solid under a small stress and like a plastic solid under a large stress. Recently, plastic liquids have been used as compliant electrodes for elastomeric ...

Abstract: Elastomeric seals are widely used to block fluids of high pressure. When multiple seals are installed in series and the spaces between the seals contain compressible fluids (e.g., gas or gas–liquid mixture), the seals ...

Abstract: Subject to compression, elastic materials may undergo bifurcation of various kinds. A homogeneous material forms creases, whereas a bilayer consisting of a stiff film and a compliant substrate forms wrinkles. Here, we show ...

Abstract: Pure substances can often be cooled below their melting points and still remain in the liquid state. For some supercooled liquids, a further cooling slows down viscous flow greatly, but does not slow down selfdiffusion as ...

Abstract: We describe the materials, design, experimental measurements, and simulations of a bio-inspired all-solid tunable optical device: ionic eye. A dielectric elastomer functions as an electroactive material. An ionogel functions ...

Abstract: Stiffness and fatigue threshold are important material parameters in load-carrying applications. However, it is impossible to achieve both high stiffness and high threshold for single-network elastomers and single-network ...