Multiscale Modeling and Solid Mechanics

Multiscale Modeling and Solid Mechanics

This group specializes on multiscale modeling and experimentation spanning a broad spectrum of material properties and their behaviors at a range of spatial, temporal, and environmental conditions. Our focus includes mechanical behavior of advanced materials utilizing state-of-the-art experimental and computational approaches. In the realm of experimental mechanics, the mechanical behavior of aerospace composites, high strength structural ceramics, biomaterials, gels, and 3D printed materials is being investigated under multiaxial static and dynamic loads. These investigations encompass material length ranging from nanometers to several mm and loading time from nanoseconds (shock loading) to minutes.  The resulting experimental observations are validated using advanced computational approaches that span atomistic scales to macroscale behaviors. Research also encompasses atomistic and mesoscale simulation techniques to study the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of materials, with particular focus on the behavior of material interfaces.

In the realm of computational modeling, the research in the Atomistic and Multiscale Mechanics lab is focused on multiscale materials modeling and simulation.  Researchers develop formalisms to theoretically link atomistic and continuum descriptions. They also develop multiscale computational methods and massively parallel computing codes to predict nonequilibrium materials processes from the atomic to the mesoscale, with no empirical rules or parameters other than Newton’s second law and classical or machine-learned interatomic potentials. The ultimate goal of this research is to understand the physical processes and mechanisms underlying materials properties so as to design materials or structures to achieve co-optimized microstructural, mechanical, and thermal transport properties. Researchers are interested in high-strength high toughness materials, thermoelectric materials, phononics,  microelectronics, power electronics, and other semiconductor heterostructures.

An example simulation of Resonant response of a PbTe-PbSe interface dislocation network to an ultrashort heat pulse. (Prof. Youping Chen)

Areas of Excellence

Related Faculty

Dr. Katerina E. Aifantis Associate Professor and MAE Faculty Fellow
(352) 392-6227

After obtaining my Bachelor’s in Engineering in 2002 with a minor in Mathematics, at the age of 19, I received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship with which I obtained my Master’s from the University of Cambridge in 2004 and my PhD at the University of Groningen in 2005 at the age of 21, becoming the youngest PhD in The Netherlands.…

Dr. Youping Chen Professor
(352) 392-8494

Dr. Chen received her Ph.D from the Georgia Washington University in 2003 and jointed University of Florida in 2006. She was a recipient of DARPA Young Faculty Award in 2010 for “Predicting materials properties from their microstructural architecture”, DOE Early Career Award in 2011 for “Prediction of thermal transport properties of materials with microstructural complexity”, and nine US National Science Foundation Awards for multiscale studies of mechanics of advanced materials and thermal transport in heterostructures from 2009 to 2023.…

Dr. Peter G. Ifju MAE Excellence Term Professor
(352) 392-6744

Education
Ph.D., 1992, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Research Interests
Experimental mechanics, moire interferometry, compositie materials, micro air vehicles.
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Member

Dr. Douglas E. Spearot Newton C. Ebaugh Professor and Graduate Coordinator
(352) 392-6747

Professor Spearot received his Ph.D. in 2005 from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research broadly includes the use of atomistic and mesoscale simulation techniques to study the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of materials, with particular focus on the behavior of interfaces. He was awarded the NSF CAREER Award in 2010 and was named 2020 Teacher of the Year in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.…

Dr. Ghatu Subhash Newton C. Ebaugh Professor
+ 1 352-727-8662

Professor Ghatu Subhash obtained his PhD from University of California San Diego in 1991 and conducted his post-doctoral research at California Institute of Technology. His research focusses on multiaxial behavior of advanced ceramics, metals, composites, gels and biological materials. He has developed novel experimental methods which have been patented and widely used. He has co-authored 205 peer reviewed journal articles (8400 citations in Google Scholar, h-index=48), 85 conference proceedings, 2-books, and 6 patents.…

Dr. Xin Tang Assistant Professor
(352) 294-1194

Professor Xin Tang received his Post-doctoral training from Harvard University and Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include cell and molecular mechanics in cancer development and metastasis, cardiovascular system, and neurons; unconventional mechano-electrophysiology; quantitative in vivo/vitro functional bio-imaging; bio-nanotechnology; and development of new biophysical tools to probe biological function/structure. His research is supported by NIH, NSF, AFOSR/DoD, UF Health Cancer Center, UF Opportunity Funds, and etc.…

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