Mechanics, Materials and Computing
PhD Program
The Mechanics, Materials and Computing (MMC) focus area is a new discipline, blending the insightful modeling of a wide variety of physical phenomena with the development of appropriate computational methods.
Many engineering decisions require a fundamental understanding of the mechanics of crystalline, granular and amorphous materials under both normal and extreme conditions, including:
- The design and functionality of existing materials used in structural, energy, and sensing applications
- The design of new materials providing targeted structural and electrical functionality
- The design of earthquake-resilient structures and materials
- The prediction of natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides
The MMC group carries out world-class research and education focused on the scientific understanding and practical application of the emergent complex behavior of materials through computer simulation techniques. We use these techniques to analyze the deformation, flow and failure of natural and engineered materials with a view towards the optimal design of engineering systems. State of the art computing facilities support our activities.
Faculty Research Interests
- Modeling and large-scale computer simulation
- The mechanics of crystalline, granular and amorphous materials
- Dislocation mechanics
- Phase transformations
- Atomistic simulation
- The electromechanics of ‘smart’ materials
- The rheology of complex fluids
- The mechanics of soft matter and
- Engineering seismology and earthquake engineering
Trans-Disciplinary Team Investigates Topological Defects
Amit Acharya is leading a multidisciplinary, university-spanning team in an NSF Grand Convergence Research project to unravel one of the most ubiquitous physical phenomena known to science.