2.075: Mechanics of Soft Materials

Fall | Graduate | 12 Units | Prereq: None

Covers a number of fundamental topics in the emerging field of soft and active materials, including polymer mechanics and physics, poroelasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanics of electro-magneto-active and other responsive polymers. In addition to the regular topics, the course will cover four special topics this year: degradation and recycling of polymers, AI- and data-based design of biopolymers, 3D printing of soft materials, and soft robotics. 

Lectures, recitations, and experiments elucidate the basic mechanical and thermodynamic principles underlying soft and active materials. Develops an understanding of the fundamental mechanisms for designing soft materials that possess extraordinary properties, such as stretchable, tough, strong, resilient, adhesive and responsive to external stimuli, from molecular to bulk scales.