Solid fluid interaction
Simulating coupled material response across interfaces, fluids, and evolving microstructures.
Advanced computational materials modeling
Developing cutting-edge methods for simulating and visualizing material behavior.
Nanoscale mechanics
Connecting computation with material response and high-resolution characterization.
Solid Rocket Motors
Advancing solid rocket propulsion technology through simulation-driven design.
Microstructure Evolution
Creating next-generation materials by manipulating their structure at the microscopic level.
Topology Optimization
Applying diffuse interface modeling techniques to automate structural design.
Machine Learning
Using artificial intelligence to unravel the mechanics of material failure.
Damage Mechanics
Predicting how materials fail so they can be made stronger, lighter, and more resilient.
Welcome to the research website for the Solid Mechanics Research Group at Iowa State University.
The discipline of solid mechanics is concerned with determining how structural materials respond to external loading, and - often - predicting the reliability and safety of the materials in their environments. Materials are uniquely complex in that they exhibit vastly different behaviors at different scales. At the nanometer scale, they behave as lattices of atoms or, perhaps, chains of polymer. At the mesoscale, they exhibit features, such as grain boundaries, that act as key players in mechanical processes. At the application scale, these microscopic behaviors present as behaviors that we all know and understand: plasticity, viscoelasticity, fracture, etc. Understanding this atoms-to-applications picture is a grand challenge in solid mecahnics.
Our group uses the latest computational methods to develop new tools to enable better simulation of solid mechanics. We are interested in a broad range of applications, ranging from solid rocket propellant to asteroid-satellite impact.
We employ high performance computational techniques combined with rigorous theoretical and applied mechanics to develop new methods for materials simulation that enable predictive modeling for materials analysis and design
Computational solid mechanics lies at the intersection of mechanics, mathematics, materials science, physics, and high performance computing. We aim to produce methods that are theoretically sound, codes that efficient, and results that are believable. Are you interested in joining us? Please check out our page on joining the solid mechanics group.
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Our sponsors
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our sponsors and partners in advancing solid mechanics research.
