Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Metamaterials

This research cluster specializes in advanced composites and metamaterials, developing multiscale analysis techniques and designing materials with extreme acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties through topology optimization for innovative engineering applications.

A distinctive focus of the cluster is the design and development of metamaterials with extreme acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties for innovative engineering applications. Through systematic topology optimization, researchers conceive and analyse mechanically-tunable flexoelectric metamaterials and structures that leverage buckling-induced geometric polarization to achieve unique performance characteristics.

The group is working to broaden the scope of metamaterial development to address properties characterized by odd-rank tensors, such as pyroelectricity and piezomagnetism. The cluster is also actively pursuing the commercialization potential of geometrically polarized metamaterials for energy conversion through collaborative efforts with experimental groups, building on existing patents to bridge the gap between theoretical advances and practical industrial applications.