Matthew Daly

University of Illinois at Chicago | UIC · Department of Civil and Material Engineering

In nuclear power plants, stainless steel represents one of the key materials used in heat transfer operations within reactor systems. In comparison to traditional light water reactors, where heat exchange systems operate at relatively low temperatures, new advanced reactors such as sodium fast reactors are designed with greater thermal efficiencies...

In recent years, development of advanced liquid metal thermal hydraulics enabling technologies has become increasingly important for commercial deployment of advanced reactors. One of the challenges is the need for reliable structural health monitoring (SHM) systems capable of detecting early signs of critical metallic structure failure in high-tem...

Cold spray additive manufacturing presents a rapid solution for repairing metallic systems affected by in-service damage. However, the inherent characteristics of the manufacturing process can result in the development of defects such as pores or inclusions, as well as anisotropy within the repaired volume. These factors can adversely affect the me...

High temperature fluid advanced reactors (AR), such as sodium fast reactors (SFR) and molten salt cooled reactors (MSCR) are promising nuclear energy options with efficient power conversion systems utilizing high temperature fluid at ambient pressure. Because of operating temperatures above 600oC in AR systems, degradation of metallic structures du...

The exceptional physical properties and unique layered structure of two-dimensional (2D) materials has made this class of materials great s candidate for applications in electronics, energy conversion/storage devices, nanocomposites, and multifunctional coatings, among others. At the center of this application-space, mechanical properties play a vi...

The varied atomic arrangements in face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solutions introduce atomic-scale fluctuations to their energy landscapes that influence the operation of dislocation-mediated deformation mechanisms. These effects are particularly pronounced in concentrated systems, which are of considerable interest to the community. Here, we exami...

Recent studies of concentrated solid solutions have highlighted the role of varied solute interactions in the determination of a wide variety of mesoscale properties. These solute interactions emerge as spatial fluctuations in potential energy, which arise from local variations in the chemical environment. Although observations of potential energy...

The competition between deformation twinning and dislocation slip underpins the evolution of mesoscale plasticity in face-centered cubic materials. While competition between these mechanisms is known to be related to the critical features of the generalized planar fault energy landscape, a physical theory that tracks competition over extended plast...

Recent studies of concentrated solid solutions have highlighted the role of varied solute interactions in the determination of a wide variety of mesoscale properties. These solute interactions emerge as spatial fluctuations in potential energy, which arise from local variations in the chemical environment. Although observations of potential energy...

Conventional methodologies to link damage evolution with the activation of deformation mechanisms typically require destructive testing and post-mortem analysis. More recently, mechanical testing combined with acoustic emission analysis has provided a method to fingerprint multiple active deformation mechanisms. However, correlating different acous...

Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries possess the highest theoretical energy density (3500 Wh kg⁻¹), which makes them attractive candidates for modern electronics and transportation applications. In this work, an inexpensive, flexible, and wearable Li–O2 battery based on the bifunctional redox mediator of InBr3, MoS2 cathode catalyst, and Fomblin‐based...

Recent studies of FeMnCoCr-based high entropy alloys have demonstrated uncommon deformation behaviors such as transformation-induced plasticity, which were largely believed to be restricted to select families of steels. Coupled with the potential for entropy stabilization of high symmetry phases at high temperatures, this system represents a promis...

Recent studies of FeMnCoCr-based high entropy alloys have demonstrated uncommon deformation behaviors such as transformation-induced plasticity, which were largely believed to be restricted to select families of steels. Coupled with the potential for entropy stabilization of high symmetry phases at high temperatures, this system represents a promis...

The competition between deformation twinning and dislocation slip underpins the evolution of mesoscale plasticity in face-centered cubic materials. While competition between these mechanisms is known to be related to the critical features of the generalized stacking fault energy landscape, a physical theory that tracks competition over extended pla...

The process of deformation twinning significantly influences the flow behavior of metals through its signature features – plasticity accommodation via twinning shear and crystal segmentation from the creation of twin boundaries. While the competition between deformation twinning and dislocation slip can be understood from fundamental physical metal...

The influence of size effects on the mechanical properties of a new class of multilayer architectures are reported. In contrast to traditional multilayers, which are constructed from alternating layers of differing metallic species, the multilayer architectures examined in this study are comprised of a periodic layering of coarse-grained and nanocr...

The self-sharpening of the sea urchin tooth was previously hypothesized but never visualized. Through a novel in situ SEM experiment, such visualization in three dimensions become possible. Moreover, when in situ experimental measurements were combined with nonlinear finite-element analysis, the synergy between tooth microstructural features and me...

This paper describes a systematic, quantitative study on the nanoscale toughening of monolayer graphene oxide (GO) by an ultra-thin polymer adlayer, which impedes the propagation of cracks during intraplanar fracture. Using molecular dynamics simulations, the crack-bridging capabilities of a library of five hydrogen-bonding-capable polymers are exp...

Investigation into the microstructure of high performance natural materials has revealed common patterns that are pervasive across animal species. For example, the helicoid motif has gained significant interest in the biomaterials community, where recent studies have highlighted its role in enabling damage tolerance in a diverse set of animals. Mor...

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries due to their exceptionally high charge capacity. However, direct implementation is hindered by large volume expansion induced during lithiation, which results in mechanical failure during repeated charge cycling. Recent experimental works show thin metal oxide coatings ca...

Pangolin scales are a durable armor whose hierarchical structure offers an avenue towards high performance bio-inspired materials design. In this study, the fracture resistance of African pangolin scales is examined using single edge crack three-point bend fracture testing in order to understand toughening mechanisms arising from the structures of...

Graphene Oxide (GO) is considered as one of the most promising layered materials with tunable physical properties and applicability in many important engineering applications. In this work, the interfacial behavior of multilayer GO films was directly investigated via GO-to-GO friction force microscopy, and the interfacial shear strength (ISS) was m...

Graphene oxide (GO) is a layered material comprised of hierarchical features which possess vastly differing characteristic dimensions. GO nanosheets represent the critical hierarchical structure which bridges the length-scale of monolayer and bulk material architectures. In this study, the strength and fracture behaviour of GO nanosheets were exami...

Recent experimental studies have observed a surprisingly wide range of strengths in polycrystalline graphene. Previous computational investigations of graphene tilt boundaries have highlighted the role of interfacial topology in determining mechanical properties. However, a rigorous characterization of deformation energy barriers is lacking, which...

The revolutionary multiple memory material technology allows local modification of shape memory alloy functional properties to create monolithic actuators that exhibit several different thermomechanical characteristics. In this work, high density laser energy was used to process a monolithic piece of NiTi shape memory alloy material to allow synerg...

The thermomechanical properties of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys have sparked significant research efforts seeking to exploit their exotic capabilities. Until recently, the performance capabilities of nickel-titanium devices have been inhibited by the retention of only one thermomechanical response. In this article, the application of a novel...

A novel laser processing technique, capable of locally modifying the shape memory effect, was applied to enhance the functionality of a NiTi linear actuator. By altering local transformation temperatures, an additional memory was imparted into a monolithic NiTi wire to enable dynamic actuation via controlled resistive heating. Characterizations of...

The exciting thermomechanical behavior of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) has sparked significant research effort seeking to exploit their exotic properties. The performance capabilities of conventional NiTi offerings are limited, however, by current fabrication technologies. In this study, a high power density laser source was implemented to local...

The exciting thermomechanical behavior of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys have sparked significant research efforts seeking to exploit their exotic shape memory properties. The performance capabilities of conventional nickel-titanium alloys are currently limited, however, by the retention of only one shape memory geometry. In this paper we demo...

Shape memory alloys such as Nitinol, which is a group of NiTi alloys composed of nearly equiatomic nickel and titanium, finds increasing applications in many industries because of its unique properties including the shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity. In past work simple linear actuators have been developed using Nitinol wire which are actuat...

In this paper we focus on a study which involves quantifying the effects of Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuators on the pattern and magnitude of wrinkles in a membrane when exposed to various loadings. An ABAQUS finite element code is employed for this research. The membrane in this study has a rectangular shape which is clamped at one edge and is...

The following paper presents the results of a thermal robustness assessment of a rigidized space inflatable boom. Modal testing is performed at three different environmental temperatures; spanning a range of 38°C, with the purpose of characterizing dynamic behavior and assessing changes in bending frequencies. Experimental results show that the nat...