Professor Michael Ortiz, Chair of the UNESCO Chair in Numerical Methods in Engineering of CIMNE and UPC, has been awarded the prestigious “2025 Jerald L. Ericksen Prize” by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). The prize recognizes his outstanding contributions to the field of applied mathematics, specifically for his groundbreaking paper “Data-Driven Problems in Elasticity,” co-authored with Sergio Conti and Stefan Mueller.
The paper, published in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis, introduces a novel approach to elasticity problems, shifting away from traditional methods that rely on calibrated empirical material models. Instead, it proposes a “Data-Driven” paradigm that directly utilizes material data to formulate and solve problems. This innovative approach bypasses the material modelling step, eliminating associated errors and uncertainties.
In “Data-Driven Problems in Elasticity,” Ortiz and the co-authors explore the concept of minimizing the distance between a given material data set and the subspace of compatible strain-stress field pairs. This approach allows for the resolution of elasticity problems without explicitly defining a material law. The paper demonstrates that classical solutions are recovered in the case of linear elasticity and establishes conditions for the convergence of Data-Driven solutions. Furthermore, the research reveals that relaxation within this Data-Driven framework differs significantly from classical relaxation of energy functions, leading to material data sets that are not graphs, particularly in the context of bistable materials.
The significance of this work lies in its potential to uphold the materials science and fields of engineering. By leveraging the increasing availability of experimental and computational data, the Data-Driven approach offers a more accurate and reliable way to analyse and predict material behaviour. This has profound implications for various applications, including the design of new materials, the optimization of engineering structures, and the development of advanced manufacturing processes.
CIMNE’s General Director, Prof. Javier Bonet said: “Professor Ortiz's recognition with the Jerald L. Ericksen Prize underscores the importance of his research and its potential to transform the field of applied mathematics and engineering. His work at the UNESCO Chair in Numerical Methods in Engineering of CIMNE and UPC continues to push the boundaries of computational science, fostering innovation and addressing critical challenges in engineering and technology.”
Authors will receive the award in an official ceremony at the Third Joint SIAM/CAIMS Annual Meetings (AN25) in Montréal, Québec, Canada this summer. The event will feature an associated lecture.
