Materials & Microstructures

We study how processing shapes the microstructure of materials and how this controls their behavior. Our aim is to design materials with tailored structures that improve strength, durability, or functionality. We work across many classes of materials—rocks for energy storage and safety, metals and alloys for aerospace and transport, polymers for lightweight structures, and semiconductors for optics. By combining targeted experiments with modeling, we capture how thermal, magnetic, and mechanical stresses drive deformation and damage.

We investigate key mechanisms such as plasticity, fatigue, fracture, and healing across different scales. For example, we study recrystallization in rocks, cyclic fatigue in steels and titanium alloys, and the viscoelastic response of polymers and composites. We also use advanced modeling, like variational methods, to predict how cracks form, grow, and cause failure. These insights feed directly into applications, from turbine design to hydrogen storage tanks and structural repairs.

We also explore multiphysical couplings where mechanics interacts with electricity, magnetism, or chemistry. This includes magnetorheological elastomers, ferroelectrics, nanostructured optical materials, and silicon electrodes for batteries. Our models help explain extreme deformations during electrochemical cycling and guide the design of more durable electrodes. We also create reactive composites combining metallic foams and salts for thermochemical energy storage. Through this work, we aim to develop materials that are stronger, more durable, and multifunctional.