Our group’s research focuses on the mechanics of fracture, deformation, damage and dynamics of materials and nanoscale systems. Over the years we’ve worked over length scales from 10’s of km for problems in structural geology, down to 100 nm for micro-scale structures. We’ve worked across the spectrum of materials from ceramics to gels. Mechanics is still mechanics even when the size and stiffness changes!

Our lab is principally experimental, but we also develop and use theory and computational simulation. These provide the framework for understanding of experimental results and their extension to other research and applications.

Many of our projects are performed in teams, working with students and faculty from within MAE but also from CEE, Physics, Chemistry, Applied Physics, Applied Math and other fields. Ph.D., M.S., M.Eng. students and undergraduates have all played important parts in our research. We use many of Cornell’s world class central facilities, particularly those supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) – Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), Cornell NanoScale Science Facility (CNF), and the Biotechnology Resource Center (BRC).

Our research has been primarily supported by NSF and NASA.