About Our Lab

We are broadly interested in studying the mechanics of soft engineering and biological materials using an integrated experimental and modeling approach. In particular, we are interested in adaptive materials that  can  exhibit dramatic changes in microstructure, mechanical properties, and  macroscopic shape in response to an environmental stimulus.

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Research

Biomechanics of the Artery

Biomechanics of the Cornea and Sclera

Biomechanics of the Optic Nerve Head

Biomechanics of the Skin

Blast Injury Biomechanics

Collagen Growth and Remodeling

Design of Architected Materials

Dielectric Elastomers

Fracture and Failure Mechanics

Hydrogels

Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Polymers and Composites

Shape Memory Polymers

Recent Publications

B. Shen, Y. Jiang, C. M. Yakacki, S. H. Kang, T. D. Nguyen (2026) “Combining stretching-dominated and bending-dominated dissipation behavior to optimize energy absorption in liquid crystal elastomer-based lattice structures”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 209:106497, DOI:10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106497.

B. Shen, Y. Jiang, C. M. Yakacki, S. H. Kang, T. D. Nguyen (2026) “Combining stretching- dominated and bending-dominated dissipation behavior to optimize energy absorption in liquid crystal elastomer-based lattice structures”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 209:106497, DOI:10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106497.[Link]

Y. Jiang, Z. Xu, R. Xiao, S. Govindjee, T. D. Nguyen (2026) “A viscoelastic micro-stretch theory for monodomain nematic liquid crystal elastomers”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 207:106412, DOI:10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106369.

Y. Jiang, Z. Xu, R. Xiao, S. Govindjee, T. D. Nguyen (2026) “A viscoelastic micro-stretch theory for monodomain nematic liquid crystal elastomers”, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 207:106412, DOI:10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106369. [Link]

Liquid Crystal Elastomers
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