Versatile, Intelligent and responsive architected Materials Lab

The Versatile, Intelligent and Responsive Architected Materials Lab is focused on creating new smart materials and structures that can synergistically integrate with rapidly evolving digital electronics and power the next generation of robotic devices. Our current research explores two core scientific thrusts: (1) Investigating peculiar mechanical behavior of tunable architected materials featuring multiple types of structural building blocks such as active elements, nonlinear elements, topological, quasi-periodic, and other structural features. (2) Explore avenues to transform these tunable architected materials into smart materials whose autonomous and intelligent material responses enable robotic functionalities.

We specialize in investigating the static and dynamic (waves) mechanical behavior of architected materials, e.g., phononic crystals, metamaterials, robotic materials, that can be precisely engineered, on-demand through intricate and adaptable internal architectural design. Our expertise includes phononics, elastodynamics, reduced order and finite-element modelling, 3D printing and other prototyping techniques, and experimental vibration testing of architected materials. We actively seek collaborations with colleagues in the areas of materials science and chemistry, condensed matter physics, additive manufacturing, and robotics to progress towards our long-term scientific goals.