The research conducted in the Mechanics of Active Materials Lab focuses on the experiment- and physics-based constitutive
modeling of active materials, with an emphasis on applications. An active (or 'smart') material is any
material that can transform energy from one domain to another, akin to how man-made motors transform electrical energy into
mechanical work. Dr. Lisa Weiland is directing the development of this new laboratory, in which active materials such as
ferroelectric ceramics, electroactive polymers, and bio-inspired materials will be considered both experimentally and
computationally. Experimental studies focus on developing characterization methods for novel materials for which there
are no established procedures. Computational studies generally focus on nano length scale active response as a means to
anticipate macro length scale response. The goal of research is to understand the multi-scale physics responsible for the
'smart' behavior observed in these materials in order to expand viable engineering applications. Applications of particular interest
are adaptive morphing stuctures and sustainable systems.
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