BIO

Brandon Zimmerman joined LLNL as a postdoctoral researcher in the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division in March 2022, where his work focuses on characterizing the shock response of structured heterogeneous materials and understanding the limits of continuum models in capturing this behavior. Prior to joining LLNL, his research focused on developing reactive continuum theories and finite element software to model complex materials that evolve in response to mechanical, chemical, and electrical loading. He completed a PhD in soft tissue biomechanics at Columbia University in 2020 and previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University.

ABSTRACT

Advances in additive manufacturing let us 3D print metal lattice materials that are stronger than steel but as light as plastics. By combining predictions of computer models with experimental testing at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), this work designed the structure of these materials so they can survive extreme high-pressure loading environments. The successful structures discovered here allow LLNL engineers to save weight when designing mission-critical components for challenging applications in the national interest.