Research

Our research lies at the intersection of mechanics and data science, with an emphasis on learning and controlling the connection between material microstructure and emergent macroscopic behavior including inelasticity, friction and damage. We are particularly interested in the mechanics of geomaterials (e.g. cohesionless and cohesive granular materials), soft materials (e.g. polymers) and structural materials. We are actively working on the following research areas:

Development of computational methods for predicting material behavior by combining data-driven techniques with principles of physics and thermodynamics.

 

Investigation of the mechanics of geomaterials, from the grain to the continuum scale, with a special focus on understanding their instability and failure in civil engineering and geophysics applications.

 

Design of materials and structures with improved properties leveraging principles of bioinspiration.