Research

Our group integrates theoretical modeling, physics-based simulation, and table-top experiments to understand the behavior of soft polymeric and biomimetic multifunctional materials.

Research Overview

Active Funded Projects

  • NSF CAREER
    Multiscale Mechanics of Highly Deformable Strain-Gradient Electric Generators
    Soft Polymers Flexoelectricity
  • NSF MRSEC
    Designing 3D-Printable Materials that Mimic Soft Interfacial Gradients
    Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials, UT Austin
    Constitutive modeling Digital materials
  • NSF DMREF
    Computational Design of Synthetic Tissue-Like Multifunctional Materials
    Biomimetic cellular materials Elastocapillary
  • NSF
    Mechanics of Ultra-Soft Inclusions in Fibrous Materials
    Fiber networks Soft composite mechanics
  • DOE EFRC
    Mechanics of Isoporous Membranes
    Center for Materials for Water and Energy Systems (M-WET)
    Damage modeling Porous materials
  • TxDOT
    Micromechanical modeling of transport and mechanics in nanoparticle-enhanced concrete
    Evaluate Nanomaterials in Concrete for Improved Durability
    Multiscale modeling Microstructure

Simulation Highlights

A glimpse of what we simulate.

Liquid-bridge extension
Polymer solution extension
NSF DMREF
Soft droplet contact
Soft droplet contact
NSF multiscale fiber mechanics
Porous block indentation
Porous block indentation
DOE EFRC
Torsion instability
Torsion instability
DOE EFRC
Bulk-boundary coupling
Bulk-boundary coupling
NSF DMREF
Contact of swelling gels
Contact of swelling gels
NSF DMREF