The research in the Laboratory for Micro- and Nano-Mechanics of Materials focuses on “smart” materials (i.e., materials that inherently function as motors or sensors) and biogenic materials (i.e., materials produced by living organisms). Of particular interest are multi-disciplinary problems in which the material mechanics aspect is coupled with electric, magnetic or chemical effects. All these effects involve sub-processes that occur at small time and length scales. The lab designs and builds innovative new experimental instruments and methods that provide unique and vital information on the mechanics of materials at the nano- and micro-levels. Applications for the types of materials studied in the lab include use in the aircraft, spacecraft, and automotive industries; structural systems, and biomedicine.
