We use advanced electron microscopy, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy, to observe these microstructures down to the atomic level. This gives us detailed images and data, allowing us to understand how a material’s inner structure impacts its overall properties.

With this knowledge, we experiment with manufacturing processes and additives to develop materials with custom-made microstructures, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in material science. For instance, we’ve recently used these methods to study and improve an alloy for Aeroflux. It’s used in their aircraft braking systems that don’t need contact to work, making planes lighter (reducing their carbon footprint), safer, more efficient, and reliable.

Selected projects include:

•  Improving the Strength of Lightweight and Hardened Metals: We are researching how the small, internal structures of lightweight materials like copper, magnesium, and aluminum, as well as tougher metals like hardened steel, influence their ability to withstand intense squeezing and stretching.
• Developing Materials with Enhanced Heat and Electrical Properties: We are researching the microscopic structures of materials to enhance their ability to conduct heat and electricity effectively.

Our laboratory employs advanced equipment, including the Direct Impact Hopkinson pressure bar and specialized bars for pulling and twisting, which can also control temperature. Notably, our lab is the only one in Canada capable of conducting tension, impact, and torsion tests on materials at both high speeds and high temperatures.

We examine various materials such as magnesium, copper, aluminum alloys, high entropy alloys, and armor steel. This research is crucial for industries involved in manufacturing airplanes, cars, and military equipment, as it provides insights into why materials might break or fail under extreme conditions.

We investigate complex phenomena, such as how materials shear or split when subjected to rapid and intense stress. The impact of our research is substantial, as evidenced by the recognition and support we’ve received through a significant 5-year, $3.2 million grant from the NSERC Alliance. This collaborative project, led by the University of Alberta, involves key industry players like General Dynamics Land Systems, NP Aerospace Ltd, and Defence Research and Development Canada. The focus is on advancing our knowledge of materials science in critical situations, with a keen eye on protecting people and property.

Our ongoing projects include:

• Enhancing Vehicle Safety While Reducing Carbon Emissions: We are working on incorporating lighter metals in cars to improve environmental friendliness and safety.
• Making Armor Steel Stronger for Military Vehicles: We’re researching how durable high-strength steels, such as armor steel, behave under different types of stress and temperatures.
• Improving the Performance of Lightweight Materials: Our investigation into how lightweight materials like magnesium and aluminum respond to rapid stretching, twisting, or impact aims to develop materials that are not only lighter but also safer and more durable for use in cars and airplanes.

To delve into the intricacies of microstructures, we employ advanced electron microscopy techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy, allowing us to scrutinize these internal arrangements down to the atomic level. This meticulous examination yields detailed images and data, enabling us to comprehend how a material’s inner structure influences its overall properties. Armed with this knowledge, our collaborative efforts involve experimenting with manufacturing processes and incorporating additives. The goal is to engineer materials with bespoke microstructures, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in the field of material science.

A recent example of our work involves the study and enhancement of an alloy for Aeroflux, specifically used in their aircraft braking systems. These systems operate without the need for physical contact, resulting in lighter planes (thus reducing their carbon footprint), increased safety, improved efficiency, and enhanced reliability.

Our ongoing projects include:

• Improving the Strength of Lightweight and Hardened Metals: Investigating how the small, internal structures of lightweight materials like copper, magnesium, aluminum, as well as tougher metals like hardened steel, influence their ability to withstand intense squeezing and stretching.
• Developing Materials with Enhanced Heat and Electrical Properties: Researching the microscopic structures of materials to enhance their ability to conduct heat and electricity effectively.

Our study on brain tissue and simulants has greatly improved the biofidelity of models used in head injury research and provided valuable insights for designing safer helmets and protective gear. Moreover, we’ve pioneered a new computer method to predict neck injuries (whiplash) more accurately in impacts and vehicle collisions. This method uniquely tracks stresses and strains from the start, revealing how different initial positions can change injury outcomes.

This approach is now being adopted by the Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) to enhance injury prediction in side impacts and collisions. This work is vital for developing more accurate computational models of the human head, guiding material selection in research, and ultimately contributing to safer automotive designs and protective strategies. Our ongoing projects include:

• Development of Biofidelic Head-Neck Model for Injury Prediction
• Biofidelic tissue simulants for scalp and skull