Advancing Research Through Experimentation, Simulation, and Innovation

The Circular Materials and Advanced Manufacturing (CMAM) Laboratory at the University of Michigan–Dearborn integrates experimental testing, materials characterization, computational mechanics, and advanced manufacturing to investigate the behavior, durability, and failure of engineering materials.

Our experimental and computational capabilities support research across metals, polymers, elastomers, and architected materials. By connecting experimental observations with physics-based modeling and artificial intelligence, we develop and validate predictive frameworks for materials engineering, manufacturing process optimization, and sustainable technologies.

Research capabilities include:

• Quasi-static and cyclic mechanical testing

• Tensile and compressive characterization

• Fatigue and durability investigations

• Full-field deformation and strain measurement using digital image correlation (DIC)

• Experimental validation of constitutive and damage models

These capabilities support the development of reliable material models and improved predictions of structural performance and service life.

Research capabilities include:

• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

• Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

• Microscopy and microstructural characterization

• Polymer and elastomer aging investigations

• Thermal and environmental degradation studies

• Analysis of relationships between material structure, degradation, and mechanical properties

By combining characterization techniques with mechanical testing, we seek to identify the physical mechanisms governing material degradation and failure.

Research capabilities include:

• Finite-element analysis (FEA)

• Constitutive modeling, plasticity, and continuum damage mechanics

• User-defined material models (UMAT/VUMAT)

• Peridynamic modeling of damage and fracture

• Machine-learning and graph-neural-network surrogate models

• Digital twins and AI-enabled manufacturing process simulation

• Computational optimization and data-driven materials design

These approaches connect fundamental material behavior with predictive simulations and intelligent engineering decision-making.

Research capabilities include:

• Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping

• Design and evaluation of architected materials

• Manufacturing process modeling and optimization

• Process–structure–property relationships

• Manufacturing-aware computational design

• Sustainable material processing and recycling research

These activities support the development of innovative materials, manufacturing processes, and engineering solutions.

Research Collaboration & Facility Access

CMAM welcomes academic and industrial collaborations involving experimental materials characterization, mechanical testing, computational modeling, and advanced manufacturing.

Access to laboratory equipment and research capabilities is coordinated through collaborative research arrangements, subject to equipment availability, university policies, and project requirements.

For research inquiries or potential collaborations, please contact:

Prof. Georges Ayoub
Director, Circular Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory
University of Michigan–Dearborn
gayoub@umich.edu