Multiscale Mechanics & Materials Lab

Our group conducts cutting-edge research at the nexus of materials and structures. We couple materials characterization with high-performance computing and data-driven analysis (including machine learning) to address a wide range of research topics that are especially pertinent to the defense, aerospace, and manufacturing communities.

Philosophy

We believe that by pursuing a 3-D understanding of material and mechanical behavior across multiple length scales, we can begin to design smarter, multifunctional, and more sustainable structural systems to suit the needs of a dynamic society.

Tools & Techniques

The MMM Lab employs various types of computing resources to simulate and predict 3-D mechanical behavior of materials, with emphasis on fatigue and fracture. We support numerical modeling with advanced materials characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and high-energy X-ray diffraction microscopy (HEDM) to characterize and quantify material structure at lower length scales. Finally, we develop methods to analyze, visualize, and effectively communicate the multi-dimensional information obtained from our measurements and simulations.