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 capableof 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-robotsand matching deep learning paradigms to replicate the bats' abilities.
Center for Advanced Automotive Research: Zachary Doerzaph, PI
The Center for Advanced Automotive Research (CAAR) focuses on the research, development, and evaluation of next-generation automotive systems. This team strives to solve a broad set of challenges associated with integrating cutting-edge technologies into the vehicles of tomorrow. The primary research areas of CAAR include crash warning/avoidance/mitigation, connected vehicles, driver-vehicle interfaces, crash causation, and vehicle automation.
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.
Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab: Robin Queen, PI
The Kevin P. Granata Biomechanics Lab is the current center of research for Robin Queen, who is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. She was previously the director of the "Coach K" Lab at Duke University where she worked with a variety of industry sponsors including the Nike Sport Research Lab and DonJoy Orthopedics. Her focus is on lower extremity biomechanics with an emphasis in foot and ankle biomechanics. Her work focuses on understanding changes in lower extremity loading and movement symmetry that result from injury and pathology. In addition, Dr. Queen works on development of various interventions to restore movement and loading symmetry in an attempt to decrease future risk of joint damage and prevent subsequent injuries.
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 at FiNLab range from insect respiratory flows, which occur at the microscale, to planetary atmospheric flows with length scales on the order of tens of kilometers. There is an emphasis on biomimetics for efficiency, resilience, and sustainability, on high performance computing, and on advanced multiscale computational modeling.
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.
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. Dr. Ross is the Director and Recruiting Coordinator of BIOTRANS, an interdisciplinary graduate education program to cross-train graduate students in biology and engineering to work on biological transport problems in environmental and physiological systems.
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.
