Our lab’s research has wide-ranging implications, from advancing space exploration with materials that endure the rigors of space travel to improving aerospace engineering with bio-inspired, metamaterial, and origami-based designs. By integrating mechanics of materials, bio-inspired design, metamaterials, origami principles, reactive materials for corrosion and additive manufacturing, and nonlinear structural dynamics, we are paving the way for the next generation of engineering innovations that will shape the future of technology and enhance quality of life.
Our work in mechanics of materials focuses on understanding and enhancing the performance of materials under extreme and variable mechanical loads and environmental (or lack of it) conditions. By exploring the microstructural properties and behaviors of different materials, we aim to design materials that are strong, multifunctional and lightweight, making them ideal for aerospace applications where weight reduction is crucial without compromising safety and performance.
From a mechanical standpoint, their lightweight, stiffness and damage tolerance is of great interest for designing lightweight structures for aerospace applications and agile soft mechanical systems.
Scales have been used to make primarily two types of biomimetic structures. In the first architecture, they appear in the form of composite layers with fully embedded imbricated stiff inclusions into a thick soft substrate. The second architecture includes a soft substrate covered with exposed overlapping scales on its surface, an exoskeletal design. The exoskeletal design is of great significance due to a nonlinear interplay of scale sliding and substrate deformation.
Our lab has carried out pioneering work in this area understanding the mechanics of these systems and use the principles learnt in design of structures
In the realm of bio-inspired architectured solids and metamaterials, we draw inspiration from natural systems to create materials with exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability. By mimicking the hierarchical structures found in nature, such as the intricate designs of bones and shells, and incorporating fish scale-inspired structures, we develop materials that exhibit superior mechanical properties and unprecedented control over wave propagation and vibration. By integrating these bio-inspired principles with the advanced functionalities of metamaterials and origami, we create foldable and reconfigurable structures that can adapt their shapes in response to external stimuli. This adaptability is particularly valuable in space applications, where deployable structures that can be compactly stowed during launch and expanded in orbit are essential. These innovative materials contribute significantly to the development of adaptable aerospace components and systems. Nonlinear structural dynamics plays a crucial role in our research, allowing us to understand and predict the complex behaviors of these architectured materials under various conditions. Through advanced computational modeling and experimental techniques, we study the dynamic responses of materials to different stimuli, enabling us to design materials and structures that perform reliably in unpredictable environments
Our research on space exploration is centered on reactive solids. It focuses on two main areas: corrosion and additive manufacturing processes. In the context of corrosion, we develop materials that can actively respond to corrosive environments, extending the lifespan and reliability of critical components in aerospace fields. These reactive solids can provide self-healing properties, ensuring the long-term durability of materials exposed to harsh conditions. For additive manufacturing, we study how reactive solids can enhance the printing process, improving material properties and performance especially focussed on in space manufacturing. This research is pivotal in creating complex, high-performance components that are essential for aerospace engineering and other advanced applications.