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Research Cluster

Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Metamaterials

Contact point
Juan C. Cante
Academic Leaders
Irene Arias, Juan C. Cante, Oriol Lloberas, Xavier Oliver
External Advisors
Rainald Lohner, Laura de Lorenzis
Overview
Staff
Projects
Publications

This research cluster specializes in advanced composites and metamaterials, developing multiscale analysis techniques and designing materials with extreme acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties through topology optimization for innovative engineering applications.

The Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Metamaterials Research Cluster at CIMNE pioneers the development and analysis of sophisticated composite materials and metamaterials with enhanced properties that demand specialized formulations for effective multiscale characterization. Building on a strong foundation in numerical strategies for composite materials’ analysis, the cluster advances methodologies ranging from enhanced mixing theory to cutting-edge multiscale approaches.

The cluster’s expertise encompasses critical aspects of material behaviour, including plasticity and damage mechanics, fibre-metal laminates, reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, topologically optimized materials, and fatigue analysis—all approached through comprehensive multiscale techniques that bridge microstructural characteristics with macro-scale performance.

A distinctive focus of the cluster is the design and development of metamaterials with extreme acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic properties for innovative engineering applications. Through systematic topology optimization, researchers conceive and analyse mechanically-tunable flexoelectric metamaterials and structures that leverage buckling-induced geometric polarization to achieve unique performance characteristics.

The group is working to broaden the scope of metamaterial development to address properties characterized by odd-rank tensors, such as pyroelectricity and piezomagnetism. The cluster is also actively pursuing the commercialization potential of geometrically polarized metamaterials for energy conversion through collaborative efforts with experimental groups, building on existing patents to bridge the gap between theoretical advances and practical industrial applications.

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