Research under the direction of Professors Michael Worswick and Clifford Butcher focuses on the characterization and prediction of the behaviour of materials and structures under large plastic strains and/or elevated rates of deformation using a balance of experimental and analytical methods. Recent projects and accomplishments include:
- Experimental and numerical capability for the prediction and characterization of formability during stamping, warm forming, and hot stamping of advanced high strength steels, aluminum and magnesium alloys used in light weight automotive structures
- Large-scale crash testing of lightweight structures fabricated from aluminum alloys and advanced high strength steel
- Characterization of the high strain rate constitutive and fracture behaviour of key lightweight sheet materials used by the automotive sector, including magnesium, aluminum, and advanced-/ultra-high strength steel alloys
- Advanced models for localization and fracture used in finite element analysis of impact and forming