Research Projects

The increasing demand for protective systems in aerospace, defence, and infrastructure sectors has made it imperative to develop materials capable of withstanding extreme dynamic conditions such as high-velocity impacts, shock wave loading, and rapid thermal excursions. This research proposal aims to address the need for developing and characterizing thermomechanical resilient material systems through a multiscale experimental and computational framework. The study will be conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Prosenjit Das at the Department of Materials Engineering, IISc Bengaluru, whose expertise in advanced materials and structures for extreme environments perfectly complements the objectives of this work. My doctoral and postdoctoral research at IIT Madras has focused on the experimental investigation and numerical modelling of cellular and polymeric materials subjected to blast wave loading and high strain-rate deformation. I have developed novel experimental setups such as a modified shock tube system for simulating blast loading and used Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) testing to characterize strain-rate-dependent mechanical properties of materials. I also worked on CT-derived foam structures and analysed their mesostructured failure mechanisms under dynamic conditions. These efforts provide a strong foundation for integrating material behaviour under high strain rates with multiscale design strategies-a central theme of this proposed work. The primary objective of the proposed research is to design, fabricate, and characterize novel material systems (including architected and hybrid composites and cellular materials) that exhibit superior performance under both mechanical and thermal shocks. On the modelling side, this project will develop multiscale finite element (FE) and homogenization models using LS-DYNA and Abaqus, guided by high-fidelity microstructural data. Material architectures will be optimized using topological and data-driven design approaches to balance blast resistance, thermal stability, and lightweight performance. Special focus will be placed on hybrid systems involving polymer/metal or ceramic/polymer composites, which offer tuneable impedance matching and energy dissipation under impact and thermal shock. Under Dr. Das’s guidance, this project will also explore phase field-based fracture modelling and advanced thermomechanical constitutive formulations-critical for capturing failure in functionally graded and architected materials. Collaboration with IISc’s facilities such as Nano indentation, SEM, and high-temperature mechanical characterization labs will provide invaluable support to experimental objectives. This proposal not only addresses scientific questions at the intersection of materials science and impact physics but also aligns with national missions such as "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" for defence and aerospace technology development