To view all of our labs and facilities, visit: http://www.beam.vt.edu/research/index.php Information about some of our labs and facilities:

Bio-Inspired Fluids Lab

Sunny Jung, PI

Our group has research interests in various physical problems related to fluid-structure interaction, including bio-locomotion, interfacial dynamics, and fluid-elasticity coupling. If you are interested in any of our research, please contact Prof. Jung at sunnyjsh@vt.edu.

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.

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.

John Duke, Jr, PI

In order to assure the safety and reliability of critical assets understanding the science of how systems degrade and how this damage affects performance is critical. 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, system and structural health monitoring are areas where this work finds applications.

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. 

James Hanna, PI

Nonlinear classical mechanics, particularly dynamics of thin structures.  Some recent topics include: impact of flexible objects; equilibria and snap-through bifurcations of cables, strips, and sheets; geometric singularities; multi-stable and collapsing structures.

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.

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.

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.

Mark Stremler, PI

MULTISCALE TRANSPORT IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: The MultiSTEPS program aims to prepare future leaders of industrial and academic research to think, collaborate, and solve problems at the intersection of the engineering and biological sciences.

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.