To view an up-to-date list all of faculty affiliated with the Engineering Mechanics program and their associated groups and facilities, visit https://beam.vt.edu/graduate/mechanics.html.
Engineering Mechanics research groups include:
Applied
Interdisciplinary Research on Flow Systems (AIRFlowS) Lab: Hosein
Foroutan, PI
In the Applied Interdisciplinary Research on Flow Systems
(AIRFlowS) Lab, we study a wide range of environmental, geophysical, and
biological flow systems that are diverse in nature, scale, and physics. With a
synergistic blend of numerical simulations, theory, experiments, and
observations we characterize the transport of momentum, energy, and pollutants
(chemicals, pathogens, allergens, and toxins) in these systems. Our research is
highly interdisciplinary and integrates the knowledge of fluid dynamics, computational
mechanics, atmospheric and environmental sciences, and aerosol sciences. The
AIRFlowS Lab is led by Dr. Hosein Foroutan in the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering.
The Batra Group: Romesh Batra,
PI
The Batra Computational Mechanics Laboratory at Virginia Tech
specializes in the development of mathematical and computational models of
nonlinear and multi-physics phenomena that involve thermal, mechanical, viscous
and electrical effects in elastic (e.g., rubber like, and biological
materials), elastic-plastic (e.g., ceramics, metals, polymers), and
thermo-visco-elasto-plastic materials under extreme loads such as those caused
by improvised explosive devices and slamming of a boat into water (i.e.,
fluid-structure interaction). The group studies the initiation and
progression of damage and failure in monolithic and composites including
sandwich structures with fiber-reinforced face sheets and functionally graded
materials/structures.
Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory: Rafael Davalos,
PI
Bioelectromechanical Systems is a cross
disciplinary field that combines engineering and science from the nano to the
macro level. In our laboratory, we have developed technology for tissue
viability detection, picoliter sample management, and imaging for molecular
medicine. Using electrical feedback to perform complex procedures in
biotechnology with precision and control, we have established robust methods
for single cell analysis, selective cell concentration, and cancer therapy.
Bio-Inspired
Engineering Lab: Jake
Socha, PI
Our lab studies the biomechanics of motion in animals, conducting
integrative research that crosses traditional boundaries of engineering and
biology. Currently, two broad themes of our research center around gliding
flight in vertebrates and internal fluid flows in invertebrates. We aim to
understand animal movements both for fundamental understanding of animal
physiology, ecology and evolution, and as inspiration for novel engineering
applications.
Bioinspired
Science and Technology Group: Rolf Mueller, PI
Dr. Mueller's research group seeks to develop solutions for sensing
in complex natural environments, e.g., to enable drones that are capable
of autonomous navigation in complex natural environments. To achieve this,
the flight and biosonar behavior of bats is studied in Borneo with
high-speed camera and ultrasonic microphone arrays. The insights from the
work are then used in the design of biomimetic soft-robots and matching deep
learning paradigms to replicate the bats' abilities.
Division of Vehicle, Driver, and Safety Safety at the
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute: Zachary Doerzaph, Director
The Division for Vehicle, Driver, & System Safety
applies cutting-edge scientific methods to design, develop, refine, and
evaluate solutions to complex transportation challenges; focusing on
applications to improve the safety and effectiveness of transportation systems
for the broad range of users. We support the development and evaluation of
advanced technologies and operations using our laboratories, numerical models,
test-tracks, field studies and analysis toolchains. The applied nature of our
work is intended to support original equipment manufacturers, automotive
suppliers, policy makers, and infrastructure owner operators in designing and
improving the effectiveness of systems by quantifying performance benefits,
resilience, unintended consequences, and potential misuse while also
characterizing user acceptance, reliance, comprehension, and understanding of
advanced vehicle and infrastructure systems.
Center for Data Reduction and Analysis Support: Miguel
Perez, PI
Dr. Perez is interested
in a variety of efforts that help to improve the safety and convenience of our
transportation systems. He currently leads a number of efforts related to
naturalistic driving study design and analysis, data standardization, data
preparation, data mining, and data analysis. In addition, Dr. Perez is
involved in efforts to improve the response of emergency vehicles to motor vehicle
crashes and to increase the usability of
ride-sharing and automated vehicle technologies for individuals with
disabilities.
Complex Systems Laboratory: Nicole Abaid, PI
The focus of the Complex Systems Laboratory is in the area of
dynamical systems and control. Current research is largely focused collective
behavior in multi-agent systems and spans agent-based modeling, studies of
synchronization and consensus, field studies with wild animals, and
bio-inspired robotic systems. Other research projects include studying the
feasibility of auditory stimulation for closed-loop control of neural
oscillations.
Computational Biomechanics and Applied Mechanics (CBAM)
Group: Costin D. Untaroiu, PI
The Computational Biomechanics and Applied Mechanics (CBAM) Group
conducts research on a large range of topics in applied mechanics, including
injury biomechanics, human body modeling, vehicle safety, applied machine
learning, and autonomous vehicles. This research is sponsored by industry
consortiums (e.g. GHBMC), and government agencies (e.g. NHTSA, NASA).
Damage
Science and Mechanics Laboratory: John
“Jack” Duke, Jr., PI
In order to assure the safety and reliability of critical assets,
it is critical to understand the science of how systems degrade and how this
damage affects performance. The Damage Science and Mechanics Laboratory
works within the multiple disciplines needed to achieve this goal.
Sustainable system planning and design, life-extension, system
prognostics, and system and structural health monitoring are areas where this
work finds applications.
The Dynamic Active Materials Laboratory: John Domann, PI
The Dynamic Active Materials Laboratory investigates the coupling
of solid mechanics and electrodynamics in active material systems, including
piezoelectric, magnetoelastic, and composite multiferroic structures. This work
covers everything from creating analytical and numerical models to measuring
fundamental material properties and developing devices that exploit the coupled
behavior of these systems.
Future Materials Laboratory:
Reza Mirzaeifar, PI
In the Future Materials Laboratory, we are developing
and utilizing a unique set of multiscale experimental and computational methods
to study the mechanical behavior of a broad range of advanced materials, at the
atomistic, micro, and macroscales. We fabricate novel metal-graphene composites
at different length scales, 3D print alloys, and fabricate nano-sized polymer
fibers and sheets. In each case, we perform cutting-edge experiments combined
with multiscale computational studies to engineer the nano, and microstructure
of the materials to obtain exceptional mechanical properties.
Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab: Robin
Queen, PI
The Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics lab,
directed by Robin Queen, is dedicated to preventing injuries, determining
optimal rehabilitation strategies, and assessing readiness to return to
activity for those impacted by injury or joint pain. In the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May
Serve) we strive to positively impact the lives of individuals across the
lifespan from young children to older adults by restoring movement and loading
symmetry and preserving long-term joint health through mechanical and
therapeutic interventions.
Laboratory
for Fluid Dynamics in Nature: Anne Staples, PI
The research at the Laboratory for Fluid
Dynamics in Nature (FINLAB) is focused on two main themes: fluid flows in
nature and advanced computational methods for fluid flows. The natural systems
studied in the FINLAB range from insect respiratory flows, which occur at the
microscale, to human cardiovascular flows and other biomedically relevant
flows, to planetary atmospheric flows with length scales on the order of tens
of kilometers. There is an emphasis on bioinspiration, on high performance
computing and advanced computational methods, including machine learning, on
algorithms, and on experimental validation, including microfluidics experiments.
Laboratory of Transport
Phenomena for Advanced Technologies: Rui
Qiao, PI
In this laboratory, we
explore the fundamental physics of transport phenomena with an emphasis on
problems in which molecular and mesoscopic physics plays a key role. Our
research is driven by challenges emerging at the frontiers of advanced
technologies such as hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional sources,
thermal management, and engine reliability in aggressive environments. We focus
on atomistic, mesoscopic, and continuum modeling, but we also work closely with
experimentalists and theoreticians. Recent research interests include
nanofluidic transport in unconventional reservoirs, particulate manipulation in
low-Reynolds number flows, particulate transport in aero-engines, and thermal
and fluid transport in thermal management systems.
Materials Response
Group: Scott Case and David Dillard, PIs
The Materials Response Group (MRG) is a research group within the
Engineering Science & Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech focusing on the
response of material systems to mechanical and environmental loading. Of
particular interest are polymer and ceramic composites, adhesives, and
scientific visualization.
Multiphysics Intelligent and Dynamical Systems Lab: Shima Shahab, PI
Multiphysics Intelligent and Dynamical Systems (MInDS) laboratory
focuses on the intersection of smart materials and dynamical systems for
various interdisciplinary applications such as energy harvesting, biomimetic
locomotion and contactless acoustic energy transfer; biomedical opportunities
and challenges. Current research topics at MInDS include intelligent
fluid flow control using smart materials and metamaterial-inspired concepts,
high-intensity focused ultrasound for wireless charging of low-power sensors,
and ultrasound responsive drug delivery systems. The goal is to design new
generation of smart autonomous biomedical systems which leads to new medical
diagnostics and treatments.
Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Group: Jennifer
S. Wayne, PI
The Musculoskeletal Biomechanics group conducts research on a
range of topics in biomechanics, particularly of the musculoskeletal system but
also of biological tissues in general. Experimental analyses and
computational simulations of function in normal, injured, and repaired states;
CT image and morphometric analysis.
Nature-Inspired Fluids & Interfaces Lab: Jonathan Boreyko, PI
Inspired by nature's design for animals, plants, and the weather,
our group's research involves characterizing unexplored phenomena and designing
innovative materials and systems. Our research is a multi-disciplinary
combination of fluids dynamics, heat transfer, interfacial phenomena, materials
science, and renewable energy.
Nonlinear Systems Laboratory: Craig Woolsey, PI
The Nonlinear System Laboratory (NSL) in the Aerospace and Ocean
Engineering Department at Virginia Tech provides a facility for research and
instruction in dynamics and control of nonlinear systems, with particular focus
on autonomous ocean and atmospheric vehicles. Founded in 2005, the NSL is
co-directed by Dr. Cornel Sultan, Dr. Mazen Farhood, and Dr. Craig Woolsey. The
Lab supports Virginia Tech's Autonomy and Robotics group.
Orthopedic
Mechanobiology Lab: Vincent M. Wang, PI (@vwang_VT)
The Orthopedic Mechanobiology Lab conducts research on
orthopedic and soft tissue biomechanics, mechano-stimulation of tendon healing,
and artificial intelligence approaches to injury detection. Our
collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches include (a) pre-clinical animal
studies and experimental assessment of tendon biomechanics, structure, and cell
biologic responses, (b) machine learning analyses of clinical ultrasound
images, (c) structure-function investigations of soft tissue pathomechanics,
and (d) biomechanical studies of soft tissue surgical repair
procedures.
Ross Dynamics Lab: Shane Ross, PI
The Ross Dynamics Lab performs mathematical modeling and
experiments of nonlinear dynamics with applications to patterns of dispersal in
oceanic and atmospheric flows, passive and active aerodynamic gliding,
dynamic buckling of flexible structures, ship dynamics, orbital mechanics, and
control of escaping dynamics.
The
STRETCH Lab: Raffaella De Vita, PI
Research in the STRETCH Lab focuses on characterizing the
mechanical properties of biological systems ranging from cellular components to
tissues, with special emphasis on the development of new mathematical models
and experimental methods. Although our research interests are diverse and
continuously evolve over time, the common thread that runs through much of our
work is our genuine passion in advancing fundamental and mechanistic knowledge
of biological systems. This knowledge is crucial for the development of
effective interventions to prevent and treat illness and disability.
Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics Group: Mark Stremler, PI
The Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics (TAFM) Group conducts
research on a range of topics in fluid mechanics, including reduced-order
mathematical, numerical, and experimental models of fluid flows, with an
emphasis on fluid-structure interaction, flows dominated by coherent vortical
structures, microfluidic systems, fluid dynamics in biological systems, and
connections to dynamical systems theory, particularly applications to
fluid mixing.
VibRo
Lab:
Oumar Barry, PI
The VibRo Lab Group conducts fundamental
research at the interface of nonlinear vibrations and robotics focusing on
energy harvesting, vibration control, and structural health monitoring.
The goal is to create novel
analysis, design, and control techniques for the discovery of emerging
technologies with applications in smart grid, healthcare, advanced
manufacturing, and autonomous systems. Research at the VibRo Lab is divided
into four thrust areas as follows: (1) mobile
robots for vibration control and inspection of civil infrastructure, (2) human
vibrations and assistive robotics, (3) adaptable metamaterials and
metastructures, and (4) accuracy and precision in advanced manufacturing.
