Research – Multiscale Mechanics & Materials Laboratory

Babu Rao and Spear publish in npj Computational Materials

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025

Our latest work on an interleaved physics-based deep-learning approach to accelerate high-fidelity predictions of microstructurally small fatigue crack propagation in 3D polycrystals has just been published in npj Computational Materials! We believe the work provides a template for many time-series applications in materials science, beyond fatigue and fracture. Abstract: Conventional fracture mechanics asserts that the relevant physics governing small crack growth occurs near the crack front. However, for fatigue, computing these physics for each crack-growth increment over the entire microstructurally small crack regime is computationally intractable. Properly trained deep-learning surrogate models can massively accelerate fatigue crack-growth predictions by virtually...

MMM Lab represents at TMS Specialty Congress

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

MMM Lab members presented their work at this year’s TMS Specialty Congress held in Anaheim, CA. The lineup of MMM Lab talks included: ************************************************************** Title: A High-Fidelity Fatigue-Life Modeling Framework Using Fast Fourier Transforms Track: 3DMS 2025 Speaker: Nathan Searle Co-authors: Krishna Logakannan, Laura Vietz, Benjamin Anglin (Naval Nuclear Lab), Ashley Spear ************************************************************** Title: An Interleaved Physics-Based Deep-Learning Framework as a New Cycle Jumping Approach for Microstructurally Small Fatigue Crack Growth Simulations Track: AIM 2025 Speaker: Ashley Spear Co-author: Vignesh Babu Rao ************************************************************** Title: Modeling the Hardening and Damage Evolution of Additively Manufactured Metal Matrix Composites Using an Elasto-Viscoplastic...

Claire Ticknor wins student presentation competition at ICAM 2024

August 5, 2025August 5, 2025

original story published at https://www.mech.utah.edu/me-student-wins-student-presentation-competition-at-icam/ Department of Mechanical Engineering PhD Student Claire Ticknor recently won a prestigious student presentation competition at the International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing (ICAM) hosted by ASTM in Atlanta. The competition was judged by a select group of Scientific Organizing Committee members on the quality of the presentation and technical content presented. Students from institutions around the world participated. The ICAM conference is the annual flagship conference for ASTM and emphasizes standardization, qualification, and certification around additive manufacturing, with a particular focus on industry-specific requirements. In addition to the specific requirements of various industry sectors,...

Deformation Twinning

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016

Because of the low symmetry hexagonal close packed atomic structure of Mg there are a limited number of deformation mechanisms to accommodate deformation along the crystallographic c-axis. Only one dislocation slip based mechanism can accommodate deformation along the c-axis. Therefore, deformation twinning plays a dominant role in the accommodation of deformation along the c-axis. To date there have been a number of studies to examine twinning but there are still a number of critical details that need to be addressed to properly inform modeling efforts. Shown below are the first in-situ images of twin propagation of single crystal magnesium,...

Strain Localization Evolution and Failure

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016

High speed imaging is combined with high strain rate loading to probe the evolution of strain localization leading up to failure in Mg alloys. From this study pathways for deformation are identified which lead to undesired shear band formation and crack formation. Show below is a comparison of the strain localization that occurs at a machined defect for three different loading orientations. The left two strain maps demonstrate the ability of two loading orientations to accommodate deformation in regions away from the specimen through hole. The strain map on the right shows strong localization near the machined defect which...