Strong, reversible underwater adhesion using gecko-inspired surfaces is achievable through the use of a hydrophobic structural material and does not require surface modification or suction cup effects for this adhesion to be effective. Increased surface energy can aid in dry adhesion in an air environment but strongly degrades wet adhesion via reduction of interfacial energy underwater. A direct comparison of structurally identical but chemically different mushroom shaped fibers shows that strong, reversible adhesion, even in a fully wetted, stable state, is feasible underwater if the structural material of the fibers is hydrophobic and the mating surface is not strongly hydrophilic. The exact adhesion strength will be a function of the underwater interfacial energy between surfaces and the specific failure modes of individual fibers. This underwater adhesion has been calculated to be potentially greater than the dry adhesion for specific combinations of hydrophobic surfaces.

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In this study, the effects of nano-reinforcement on the mechanical response of adhesively bonded single-lap joints with composite adherends subjected to different loading (strain) rates are systematically investigated. The results are then compared to those of the neat thermoset resin and a toughened acrylic-epoxy adhesive. More specifically, nano-reinforced and neat resin-bonded joints mating carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy adherends were subjected to tensile loadings under 1.5 and 3 mm/min and tensile impacts at a loading rate of 2.04E + 5 mm/min. In some cases, additional tests were conducted to obtain the enhancement in properties that could be gained using the nano-reinforcements for use in our further numerical investigations. The other loading rates tried were 15, 150, and 1500 mm/min. The high loading rate tests were conducted, using a modified instrumented pendulum equipped with a specially designed impact load transfer apparatus. The dispersion of nanoparticles was facilitated using a mechanical stirrer and a three-roll mill machine. The results of the impact tests revealed the positive influence of nano-reinforcements on the loading rate sensitivity of the joints. In all, the overall stiffness and strength of the joints increased as the nano-reinforcement and loading rates were increased. The failure surfaces were then examined with a scanning electron microscope to observe the distribution of the nanoparticles and study the mode of failure.

Crashworthiness, energy absorption capacity, and safety are important factors in the design of lightweight vehicles made of fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRP) components. The relatively recent emergence of the nanotechnology industry has presented a novel means to augment the mechanical properties of various materials. As a result, recent attempts have contemplated the use of nanoparticles to further improve the resiliency of resins, especially when resins are used for mating FRP components. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the response of nanoreinforced polymer composites, subjected to various rates of loading, is of paramount importance for developing reliable structures. In this paper, the effects of nanoreinforcement on the mechanical response of a commonly used epoxy resin subjected to four different strain rates, are systematically investigated. The results are then compared to those of the neat resin. To characterize the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite, a combination of the strain rate-dependent mechanical (SRDM) model of Goldberg and his coworkers and Halpin-Tsai’s micromechanical approach is employed. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted to ascertain the influences of particle type and their weight percentage. Finally, the numerical results are compared to the experimental data obtained from testing of the neat and the nanoreinforced epoxy resin.