Materials and structures in extreme environments: modeling, experiments, and data-driven design

The Office of Naval Research awarded Brown University $5.382 million on December 1, 2025, under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300) to conduct theoretical, computational, and experimental investigation of materials and structures in extreme environments with a three-year period of performance through November 30, 2028.

Brown University, the recipient, will deliver modeling and data-driven design work focused on characterizing effective material properties of triply-periodic-minimal-surfaces (TPMS) architected materials and their parametric dependencies on geometric and constitutive parameters. Work is performed in Rhode Island.

The University of Minnesota, as sub-recipient, will conduct extensive theoretical and computational investigation to develop a simulation framework for homogenized behavior of arbitrary TPMS architected materials and execute parametric dependency studies of architected homogeneous shell materials. This sub-award was obligated January 27, 2026.

The University of Rhode Island, also as sub-recipient, will execute dynamic material characterization, impact testing of architectural structures, shock loading experiments, weathering and mechanical degradation testing of polymer samples, and data analysis and model support. This sub-award was obligated March 6, 2026.