The laboratory primarily focuses on the research in the areas of Computational Mechanics. Following are some of the areas in which research is directed.

• Scratch Behavior of Polymers

Polymers have now been widely utilized as material for mechanical devices, structural parts, electronic packages, protective coatings, etc.  They are also aggressively being considered for new optical and microelectronic components and/or devices as part of the ongoing high-risk nanotechnology materials research.  As polymers are being gradually integrated into mechanical, microelectronic, optical, and nano-scale devices, the ability of polymer surfaces to resist against scratch, wear, and deformation is becoming more critical in expanding the uses of polymers in all levels of engineering applications.

The main objective of this research will be to gain fundamental understanding of the physics, materials science and mechanics at millimeter, micrometer, and nanometer scales that account for surface damage in polymers during scratch.  The fundamental knowledge gained above will be utilized for designing scratch resistant polymers for various engineering applications.

• Meshless Techniques

Meshless techniques are currently popular since they provide enhanced accuracy for less computational effort for a traditional FEM problem with the same complexity. Current research in this laboratory is focused on Natural Neighbour Method(NNM) and Hybrid Generalized Element free (HGE) methods for solving problems in the areas of nonlinear transient dynamics, damage of composites and smart materials.  

• Functionally Gradient Materials

Research is directed to characterize thermo mechanical behavior of Functionally Gradient Materials.

• Goal-based Error estimation and Adaptivity in Finite Element Method.

Application of h-, p-, hp-, and s-versions of Finite Element Method to study of wave propagation, dynamics of crack growth and various geometric and material interfaces

• Smart Materials and Structures

The research in the area of Smart Materials focuses on vibration suppression of piezoelectric, electrostrictive, magnetostrictive materials and Shape Memory Alloys.

• Damage Mechanics

Global and Local failure of composites are studied. Specific research is directed towards study of stiffness reduction, global material property degradation and the effect of transverse matrix cracks

• Material Microstructure Modeling

Research is underway to study the Microstructural behavior of Shape Memory Alloys in an effort to characterize the global constitution of these alloys. Large scale computations of the microstructure are planned.

• Large Scale computations of Non-Newtonian Flows

This study involves three-dimensional finite element formulations for non-Newtonian flows.