Anti-wrinkling in multi-layer systems subjected to thermal gradients

Multi-layered systems are nowadays largely exploited in the micro and nanotechnology industry and are object of research because of their physical properties. However those systems can be subjected to many failure mechanisms, some of which are yet to be fully understand. One of those phenomenon is wrinkling. This Thesis aims to describe wrinkling of multi-layered systems as a consequence of mechanical loads and thermal gradients and to compute the limit conditions after which a certain structure will wrinkle. It proposes a new analytical model of those phenomenon focusing on the onset of wrinkling, whose validation will be carried on by exploiting FEM simulations and experiments. The results of the carried analysis will be presented besides some solutions regarding optimization of multi-layered structures.