Education

Research Description

Dr. Patrick develops next-generation, structural composites that can sense, respond and adapt to their environment. Motivated by natural phenomenon, his research is focused on creating "active" materials that achieve biomimetic, regulating functions such as self-healing. These multidisciplinary investigations span the fields of solid/fluid mechanics, chemistry, materials science, and even electrical engineering. Dr. Patrick has created novel fiber-composites containing 3D microvasculature that can achieve multifunctional performance (e.g. thermal regulation, electromagnetic modulation) via fluid circulation/substitution within the vascular networks. He employs the latest in materials fabrication techniques, e.g. 3D printing, to produce increasingly complex fiber-composite architectures. Dr. Patrick’s latest research involves the integration of microelectronic sensors into advanced composite systems for coupling structural health monitoring (i.e. self-sensing) with self-regulating functions. His vision for the future of fiber-composites remains focused on bioinspired enhancements to imbue these synthetic materials with evolutionary advantages in an engineered platform.

Publications

Robust sacrificial polymer templates for 3D interconnected microvasculature in fiber-reinforced composites

, (2017). Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing, 100, 361–370.

Polymers with autonomous life-cycle control

Patrick, J. F., Robb, M. J., Sottos, N. R., Moore, J. S., & White, S. R. (2016), Nature, 540, 363–370.

Strategies for volumetric recovery of large scale damage in polymers

Krull, B. P., Gergely, R. C. R., Cruz, W. A. S., Fedonina, Y. I., Patrick, J. F., White, S. R., & Sottos, N. R. (2016), Advanced Functional Materials, 26(25), 4561–4569.

Automatic optical crack tracking for double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens

Krull, B. P., Patrick, J. F., Sottos, N. R., & White, S. R. (2015), Experimental Techniques, 40(3), 937–945.

Multidimensional vascularized polymers using degradable sacrificial templates

Gergely, R. C. R., Pety, S. J., Krull, B. P., Patrick, J. F., Doan, T. Q., Coppola, A. M., … White, S. R. (2015), Advanced Functional Materials, 25(7), 1043–1052.

Continuous self-healing life cycle in vascularized structural composites

Patrick, J. F., Hart, K. R., Krull, B. P., Diesendruck, C. E., Moore, J. S., White, S. R., & Sottos, N. R. (2014), Advanced Materials, 26(25), 4302–4308.

Microfluidically switched frequency-reconfigurable slot antennas

King, A. J., Patrick, J. F., Sottos, N. R., White, S. R., Huff, G. H., & Bernhard, J. T. (2013), IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 12, 828–831.

Chemical treatment of poly(lactic acid) fibers to enhance the rate of thermal depolymerization

Dong, H. D., Esser-Kahn, A. P., Thakre, P. R., Patrick, J. F., Sottos, N. R., White, S. R., & Moore, J. S. (2012), ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 4(2), 503–509.

Microvascular based self-healing polymeric foam

Patrick, J. F., Sottos, N. R., & White, S. R. (2012), Polymer, 53, 4231–4240.

Three-dimensional microvascular fiber-reinforced composites

Esser-Kahn, A. P., Thakre, P. R., Dong, H. F., Patrick, J. F., Vlasko-Vlasov, V. K., Sottos, N. R., … White, S. R. (2011), Advanced Materials, 23(32), 3654–3658.

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Grants

Integrated Self-Healing and Self-Sensing using Optical Waveguides in Microvascular Fiber-Composites

US Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)(12/07/17 - 12/06/20)

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Integrated Self-Healing and Self-Sensing using Optical Waveguides in Microvascular Fiber-Composites

Sponsor: US Air Force - Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

Start Date: 12/07/17

End Date: 12/06/20

Abstract

This proposal describes an interdisciplinary research effort to develop multifunctional fiber-composites with integrated self-healing and self-sensing capabilities. The new platform of bioinspired materials will employ microvascular networks for functional fluid transport combined with fiber-optic waveguides for light-activated healing and in situ structural health monitoring. Self-sensing of both damage and the transient healing response will provide real-time, remote feedback of mechanical stasis. In pursuing this ambitious goal, the proposal builds upon recent progress in self-healing composites, microvascular fabrication, in situ fiber-optic interrogation, and dynamic photo-chemistries. This project moves beyond two-part liquid reagents that require adequate vascular density and/or active pumping protocols to achieve sufficient in situ mixing for fracture healing. By employing the latest in sacrificial material advancements and multidimensional vascular templating techniques (e.g. 3D printing), single-liquid photo-reactive chemistries will be sequestered in evolutionary-optimized, biomimetic microvasculature. Through strategic integration of fiber-optics with vascular networks, a novel photonic pathway will be established for autonomous, luminous energy delivery after fracture to accomplish in situ healing and locally probe polymer formation. Self-sensing via in situ spectroscopy will relate internal polymerization with mechanical self-recovery in a remotely accessible, non-destructive manner. Hierarchically patterned fiber-optics around central vasculature will provide an unprecedented mechanism to repair fluidic conduits and restore circulation for repeated heal cycles. Moreover, intrinsic self-recovery of the self-sensing function via translucent healed polymer light transmission will afford repeated sensing cycles. Fiber-composites with synergistic self-healing/sensing capabilities have immediate application in aerospace structures. The multifunctional packaging has the potential to significantly reduce weight, size, and other overdesign costs while improving material performance, reliability, and extending useful lifetime. This breakthrough technology will provide radically enhanced tactical capabilities for competitive advantage in Department of Defense (DOD) operations

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Collaborative Research: Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

National Science Foundation (NSF)(11/01/14 - 10/31/19)

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Collaborative Research: Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Start Date: 11/01/14

End Date: 10/31/19

Abstract

The proposed project has an information technology (IT) component that will be coordinated with CICI university partners (UM and NCSU). The following sections highlight the nature of the project’s data generation, storage, retention, and sharing components as per NCSU. Expected data This research is expected generate datasets similar to those produced by a typical materials/structures laboratory. The types of data include: 􀁸 Experimental measurements from voltage or current measurement devices. These measurements will be converted to useful units through calibration scales. Data will be collected by instruments and sensors such as: strain gauges, load cells, linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs), and displacement transducers. 􀁸 Quantitative information in the form of human or machine readouts from measurement devices such as rulers, meter tapes, volume measurement containers, scales, and environmental gauges. 􀁸 Qualitative information such as experimental behavior, test conditions, or other significant observations. 􀁸 Multimedia data such as photographs, videos, screen captures, audio/video logs captured by cameras, camcorders, or audio recorders, or other multimedia devices. 􀁸 Written documents such as progress logs, journal articles, periodic reports, presentations, or any other document detailing progress, results, or outcomes. Data will be collected for the entire duration of this project. In particular, data is expected to be collected during testing preparation, equipment calibration, testing, personnel training, and demonstrations. Data related to the dissemination of information such as written documents or multimedia data, as it relates to publication or sharing of results, creation of manuscripts for archival publication, presentations, and reports, is expected to be generated following significant milestones in the project, and can be expected on a monthly or longer frequency. The project will result in the creation of a software framework for data management, sharing, analysis, and visualization. The code will be managed by graduate students and will be supervised by the PI. The majority of the code will be uploaded to a code repository such as GITHUB, where the code will be made open source under a GNU license.

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