We are interested in computational problems (multi-scale modeling, optimization, uncertainty quantification, model reduction, machine learning) for different materials (metals, metallic alloys, composites, meta-materials) in multiple length scales ranging from micro-scale to component-level in moderate to extreme environments, with a special focus on design.
Dr. Acar and Kuang after Kuang's MSc defense presentation in Goodwin Hall.
Congratulations to Kuang for passing the MSc Thesis Defense!
Kuang has successfully defended his MSc thesis, "Data-Driven Characterization of Micro-structural Shape and Topology in Engineering Materials".
Learn about "Shape-to-Music" 🎶🎶🎶
Turn metamaterials into music! 🎶 Undergraduate researchers Sofia Cassara and Buminhan Sansa have created musical tools that transform different metamaterial designs into sound. Try our demo website and stay tuned for exciting updates on Shape-to-Music! (Special thanks to Saltuk Yildiz for his work on modeling spinodal metamaterials and Waris Khan for his help in creating the website!)
PhD Researcher Mohamed Elleithy, Dr. Pinar Acar, and ASTRO Lab Alumni Dr. Arul Senthilnathan are at TMS 2025 in Las Vegas.
ASTRO Lab at the 154th TMS Annual Meeting
PhD Researcher Mohamed Elleithy and Dr. Acar have presented papers at the 154th TMS Annual Meeting.
Cover slide from Prof Cuan-Urquizo's talk (credits: Prof. Cuan-Urquizo)
We hosted Prof. Enrique Cuan-Urquizo for a talk on metamaterials!
We had the pleasure of hosting Prof. Enrique Cuan-Urquizo from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico for a fascinating talk on mechanical metamaterials at our ASTRO Lab.
Maruf receiving the Best Paper Award at AIAA SciTech 2025 (Photo by David Becker for AIAA).
Maruf has won the Lockheed Martin Best Paper Award in Structures at AIAA SciTech 2025.
Our paper, “Design of Functionally Graded Inconel 718 Alloy Structures by Developing Material Property Closures,” was given the top honor for a student paper in the area of structures.
Also in Department News: https://me.vt.edu/news/briefs/billah-best-paper-aiaa-2025.html
Mohamed Elleithy, Ender Eger, Maruf Billah, and Waris Khan (Photo credits Alex Parrish)
We Have Published An Invited Review Article on Uncertainty Quantification
ASTRO Lab Over the Years
ASTRO Lab at AIAA SciTech 2025 in Orlando, FL. From left to right: Ender Eger, Waris Khan, Saltuk Yildiz, and Md Maruf Billah.
ASTRO Lab dinner in October 2024. From left to right, clock-wise direction: Buminhan Sansa, Dr. Kubra Sekmen, Dr. Pinar Acar, Sofia Cassara, Kuang Kuang, Naser Almutairi, Mohamed Elleithy, Ender Eger, Saltuk Yildiz, Waris Khan, and Md Maruf Billah.
ASTRO Lab in October 2023. From left to right: Ender Eger, Kuang Kuang, Mohamed Elleithy, Matthew Long, Waris Khan, Md Maruf Billah, Sheng Liu, and Dr. Pinar Acar
Our team from the Spring 2024 group dinner. We celebrated the graduations of Dr. Sheng Liu and Matthew Long!
Our team (from left to right: Mohamed Elleithy, Matthew Long, Ender Eger, and Sheng Liu) has presented our research projects at AIAA SciTech 2024 in Orlando, FL.
Our team (Sheng Liu, Mahmudul Hasan, Mohamed Elleithy, Arul Senthilnathan, Rick Catania, Kiara McMillan, Henry Zhao, and Dr. Pinar Acar) are standing in front of the R-R Trent 1000 Turbofan Engine in Goodwin Hall (photo credits: Alex Parish, February 2022).
Advanced STRuctures and Optimization (ASTRO) Lab
Department of Mechanical Engineering
1145 Perry Street, Durham Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061