Johns Hopkins University Department of Civil Engineering

Mechanics of Materials Program Area

The Mechanics of Materials (MoM) program provides a comprehensive research and educational platform for theoretical, computational and experimental studies in the field of Mechanics of Materials.  Emphasis is placed on the fundamental understanding of deformation, fracture and fatigue behavior in materials and structural systems spanning a range of time and length scales. Multi-scale, multi-physics and probabilistic modeling of materials and structures form the basis of this concentration area and bridge the gap between fundamental sciences and engineering applications.

 

Multi-scale modeling is an important, emerging discipline involving multiple spatial and temporal scales that is aimed at solving physical problems, such as the calculation of material properties or system behavior, at a given scale using information from other scales. These scales range from electronic structure (quantum mechanical models), atoms and ensembles (molecular dynamics models), micro and mesoscale of dislocations, grains, particles or fibers (discrete or continuum modes) to structures or devices.

Multi-physics Analysis provides a unifying modeling strategy for fully-coupled effects of complex physical phenomena. The MoM program also provides opportunities in multi-scale characterization and design, including topology optimization. These thrusts enable the effective design of structure-material combinations with special focus on location specific microstructure optimization.

Probabilistic mechanics is a tool for both characterizing the inherent uncertainties of materials, structures and loadings at multiple length scales, and for assessing the effects of these uncertainties on structural and component performance.

The MoM program reaches well beyond traditional civil engineering thrusts. Faculty members are involved in cutting-edge sponsored research, of significant interest to the aerospace, automotive, defense, manufacturing, materials, biomedical and electronics industry. The MoM program mission is to provide students with a state-of-art education and visionary research opportunities that will drive the future of multi-disciplinary engineering. This program promotes the interaction between MoM and other disciplines and provides an interdisciplinary forum for researchers and practicing engineers in industry and government laboratories.

MoM Affiliated Research Groups and Centers

The following research groups and training grants are based in the Department of Civil Engineering and affiliated with the MoM program.

• Computational Mechanics Research Laboratory (Ghosh)
• Stochastic Systems and Micromechanics Group (Graham-Brady)
• Topology Optimization Group (Guest)
• Thin-walled Structures Group (Schafer)
• Modeling Complex Systems IGERT

MoM-affiliated faculty collaborate broadly across the school and university and are associated with a number of Departments, Centers, and Institutes. Contact an affiliated faculty member for additional details.

MoM Research Areas

A wide variety of research areas are currently active in the MoM program:

• Multi-Scale Modeling of Heterogeneous Materials and Structures
• Fatigue and Failure Modeling of Composites and Metals
• Computational Nanotechnology: Polymeric Materials, Thin Films, and Nano-composites
• Multi-Physics-Multi-Scale Modeling
• Metal Forming and Materials Processing Simulation and Design
• Mechanics of Biomaterials
• Probabilistic Characterization and Simulation of Material Structure
• Stochastic Modeling of Structures with Random Microstructure

MoM Relevant Associations and Societies

Faculty and student members of the MoM program are affiliated with a number of different professional societies and associations, including American Society of Civil Engineers.

• ASCE - Engineering Mech. Institute
• U.S. Assoc. for Computational Mech.
• Int’l. Assoc. for Computational Mech.
• Society for Engineering Sciences
• American Academy of Mechanics
• American Society for Mechanical Eng.
• Int’l. Ass. for Struc. Safety & Reliability

Join MoM

Graduate students interested in the Mechanics of Materials Program area should express this interest in their application, and they should be interested in working with one of the MoM faculty program.