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Research Interests

Materials, bioinspiration, micro-architecture​

At the��Laboratory for Advanced Materials & Bioinspiration��we combine theoretical mechanics, numerical modeling, optimization, experimental mechanics, 3D printing and also a bit of biology (for inspiration) to explore new material designs. Our favorite challenge is to combine properties which are traditionally difficult or impossible to achieve simultaneously in traditional materials: For example, we make stiff and hard materials that can resist impacts, protective materials with hard surfaces but which are also flexible, or structures that are stiff under certain loading conditions, but which can easily change shape (“morph”) under others. These��new materials "disrupt" traditional limitations in engineering materials, which makes them highly relevant for a variety of applications. Our research��combines��two powerful concepts: (1) Inspiration from natural materials (bone, seashells, teeth, skin, fish scales) and (2) Material architecture where hard materials, soft materials, weak interfaces and geometries are used in synergy to create and control desired mechanisms of deformation and fracture.

Current projects include morphing materials inspired from fish fins, engineered granular materials, entangled matter, and new material architectures for the mitigation of impacts.

Societal Impact

We develop lighter and stronger materials that can ultimately result in large savings in transportation. The morphing materials we develop are amenable to application in robotics or biomedical devices. The granular materials we develop can be easily assembled, they can heal from damage, and they can be fully recycled. Finally, our design approach duplicates nature’s: make more with less, develop high information, high performance materials based on modest but sustainable ingredients.

Select Publications

• S Pezeshki, Y Sohn, V Fouquet, F Barthelat: “Tunable entanglement and strength with engineered staple-like particles: Experiments and discrete element models” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 200, 106127 (2025)
• AN Karuriya and F Barthelat: “Granular crystals as strong and fully dense architectured materials” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (1), e2215508120 (2023)
• S Das, F Hannard and F Barthelat: Mechanics and properties of fish fin rays in nonlinear regimes of large deformations Acta Biomaterialia 167, 171-181 (2023)
• F Hannard, M Mirkhalaf, A Ameri, F Barthelat: “Segmentations in fins enable large morphing amplitudes combined with high flexural stiffness for fish-inspired robotic materials” Science Robotics 6 (57), eabf9710 (2021)
• Z. Yin, F. Hannard and F. Barthelat “Impact-resistant nacre-like transparent materials” Science 364 (6447), 1260-1263 (2019)

Select Awards

• Chwang-Seto Faculty Scholar, McGill University (2018). Recognizes and fosters the research of outstanding young professors.
• Visiting Professor, Institut d’Alembert, Jussieu, France (July 2017)
• Department of National Defence /NSERC Discovery Grant Supplement (2017-2020)
• 2015 Acta Biomaterialia Outstanding Reviewer (Elsevier). Recognition for continuous contributions as reviewer for Acta Biomaterialia, and for an outstanding review in 2015.
• Discovery Accelerator Supplement (2012-2015) awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
• Top ten scientific discovery in Quebec (2014) awarded by the magazine Quebec Science.
• Top-ten cited article in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids over previous five years “Toughness Amplification in Natural Composites” (2014)
• Best Paper Award at the Society for Experimental Mechanical Annual Conference, Biological Systems and Materials Division (67 papers): “Multiscale characterization of a high-performance armor: fish scales” (2011)
• One of seven articles selected as highlight for 2010 in the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics (2011)
• Top-ten cited article in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids over previous five years “On the mechanics of mother-of-pearl: A key feature in the material hierarchical structure” (2011)
• Best Paper by a Young Researcher awarded at the 12th International Conference on Fracture, out of 700+papers (2009)
• Hetényi Award for best research paper of the year published in Experimental Mechanics (2005)

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