Upcoming Event: Oden Institute Seminar

Probing heterogeneous materials across scales: intersection of mechanics, imaging and artificial intelligence

Shabnam Semnani, Department of Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego

Abstract

Many natural and synthetic materials, e.g. composites, cementitious materials and geological materials are heterogeneous and multi-scale in nature. They typically demonstrate a nonlinear and path-dependent behavior, which is determined by the properties, shape, and distribution of the constituents at the microscopic scale. While analysis of the mechanical behavior of these materials is often performed using phenomenological continuum-scale constitutive models, multiscale models are needed to fully capture the complex nonlinear material behavior. Some of the major challenges associated with multi-scale modeling of systems made of heterogeneous materials include computational costs of high-fidelity simulations, transferring the information across different length scales, and characterization of the material microstructure. In this talk, we present the recent advances in multi-scale modeling of heterogenous materials aided by advanced imaging techniques and scientific machine learning, which have emerged as a promising alternative to the traditional constitutive models to enhance simulations of complex systems.

Biography

Shabnam Semnani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Structural Engineering at UC San Diego (UCSD). Prior to joining UCSD, she earned her PhD degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. Semnani is broadly interested in combining experiments, mechanics, computational methods, and statistical and machine learning techniques to address critical problems in the infrastructure and sustainability of the built environment. Some of the applications of her work include scientific machine learning, landslide hazard assessment, carbon sequestration, geothermal energy production, composite materials, and advanced infrastructure materials and systems. She has received multiple honors and awards such as the NSF CAREER Award, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholarship, and Cement and Concrete Research Le Chatelier Distinguished Paper Award. She is also serving on the Early Career Editorial Advisory Board of the International Journal of Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, as well as the International Journal of Numerical Methods in Engineering.