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:
Adhesion Mechanics Laboratory:
David Dillard
The Adhesion Mechanics Laboratory focuses on the mechanical behavior of polymeric materials and components, with a special emphasis on the fracture behavior and durability of adhesive bonds. Using fracture mechanics, viscoelasticity, and stress analysis tools, the group has been involved in a variety of federally and industrially-funded research programs to characterize behavior, develop constitutive relationships, and predict damage and durability response. Of recent interest has been adhesive bond fracture studies for automotive applications, fuel cell durability test methods and assessments, and characterization of adhesives, sealants, hydrogels, and membranes for a range of applications.
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.
Division of Data and Analytics: 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 mitigation of temporary and permanent disability effects on driving, naturalistic driving study design and analysis, and data standardization, preparation, and mining. In addition, Dr. Perez is involved in efforts to improve the response of emergency vehicles to motor vehicle crashes.
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.
