Pentamode metamaterials (PMMs) are a new class of mechanical metamaterials, artificially engineered to have unusual elastic property such as vanishing shear modulus, mimicking the behaviour of fluids but are solid, hard to compress yet easy to deform. This research is motivated to use topological optimization, an engineering and numerical approach to find novel pentamode architectures, with a view to utilising the overall elastic deformation of microstructures, not Multi-Rigid-Body mechanisms that dominates the up-to-date design domain of PMMs.
Dr Zhen (Jeff) Luo is an Associate Professor at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and he is the Founding Director for Centre of "Advanced Design & Manufacturing" (ADaM). He received his PhD degree from HUST Mechanical Engineering in 2005. He worked as a research fellow for 6 years more at Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Sydney, and University of New South Wales. His current research interests include topological optimisation, design optimisation with uncertainty analysis and surrogate models, metamaterials and composites, multiscale modelling and design, bio-mechanical implants and devices, and smart flexible electronics and mechanical systems, as well as his recent experience in additive manufacturing. Since 2005, Dr Luo has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, including 89 JCR-Q1 journal papers, with Scopus citations up to 3000 times (h-index 31). He has received several competitive and industrial research grants and supervised over 10 PhD students.
Ms. Doris Li (eedoris@ust.hk)