Dr. Xin (Jeffrey) Liu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UTA and a researcher with the Institute for Predictive Performance Methodologies (IPPM) at UTARI, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant as the Principal Investigator for a $600,000 collaborative research project with Purdue University.
The project aims to revolutionize the way engineers model and design advanced materials such as composites, metamaterials, soft materials, and architected materials. These materials are widely used in many engineering fields, such as aircrafts for their strength-to-weight advantages, defense structures for enhanced vibration damping and acoustic control, and automative and space systems for their highly tailorable multifunctional performance. However, these materials are inherently heterogeneous and multiscale, making them both powerful and challenging to model. Dr. Liu’s team at UTA will work with Dr. Wenbin Yu’s team at Purdue to develop OpenMSG, a cloud-based, open-source multiscale modeling platform that integrates the Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG) theory with multi-fidelity ML frameworks. OpenMSG will enable ultra-efficient predictions of mechanical and multiphysics behaviors in highly heterogeneous materials and structures. The project will also deliver a comprehensive suite of open-access tools, curated datasets, and training resources, hosted on the widely recognized cdmHUB Community, an AI-powered online community for composites modeling and design.
“This project not only advances the science of multiscale modeling but also contributes to workforce development in ML-assisted materials and structural engineering,” said Dr. Liu. “By making these tools accessible to researchers, educators, and industry, we aim to foster a sustainable global community dedicated to data-driven materials innovation.”
The collaboration with Purdue University brings together expertise in advanced modeling, AI integration, and cyberinfrastructure development to ensure that OpenMSG becomes a lasting, impactful resource for the engineering community.