Research Theme

Our research focuses on the development of theoretical and computational models of multiscale, multiphysics problems, with special emphasis on applications involving porous, granular, and energetic materials.  Our research group focuses on modeling and forecasting the mechanics of materials across different length and time scales. Many of our current and previous projects involve both discovering plausible narratives of physics, mechanisms, correlations and causality of mechanics of materials, as well as converting those abstract understandings into testable hypotheses, validated theories and quantifiable predictions of practical values --- ones that actually bring measurable improvements on the accuracy, robustness and precision on forecasting behaviors of deformable single-phase and multi-phase solids, and in return lead to better engineering solutions. For recent updates of our research group, please follow the LinkedIn, X, and YouTube channels below. 

Our team has extensive experience handling a wide spectrum of civil engineering and engineering mechanics problems, ranging from modeling frozen soil and predicting long-term creep of materials used in nuclear disposal sites to modeling impacts and high-strain-rate responses of crystals. We predict how multiphase solids respond to diverse influences such as stress, deformation, heat sources, the presence of chemical species, and fluid flows, and how material instabilities such as strain localization, soil liquefaction, and fractures occur and propagate across different spatial and temporal scales. 

Our current research at Columbia University encompasses the following interconnected areas:

• Generative AI for designs of microstructures.
• Meta-modeling game with deep reinforcement learning for constraint-compatible modelings. 
• Applications of knowledge graphs for interpretable predictions, generative mathematical logic, and adversarial attacks on constitutive laws. 
• Non-Euclidean descriptors for microstructural-informed material modelings.   ​
• Micromechanics of porous media and granular physics.
• Computational plasticity for porous and granular materials exposed to extreme environments. 
• Higher-order continua and the corresponding homogenization theory for porous media.