Research

The macroscopic response of materials is known to be influenced by heterogeneities arising at smaller scales. Additionally, the macroscopic response of materials is very often the result of multiple interacting loadings such as mechanical, thermal, electro-magnetic or chemical loadings. The recent interest for so-called “smart” materials—able to deform due to physical stimuli other than mechanical stress—has further made it essential to account for the interactions between different types of loadings. Such interactions are often referred to as “multiphysics couplings”. In this context, my research focuses on investigating, via dedicated experimental setups and protocols, the influence of microstructure and of multiphysics couplings on the behavior of a large range of materials. More recently, I have started collaborating with chemists in order to develop functional materials that can specifically be tailored to respond to certain stimuli.