Workshop: Mathematical Challenges Associated with Failure of Brittle Materials

This 1.5 day invite-only workshop on “Mathematical Challenges Associated with Failure of Brittle Materials”, will bring a diverse group of mathematicians and statisticians together with a group of researchers with expertise in brittle failure. This workshop will be held May 20-21, 2019 on the campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and is sponsored by the US Army Research Office (ARO).

Brittle materials play a central role in infrastructure, security, electronic devices, and resource availability, and include ceramics, cements, various composites, glass, and rocks. Despite significant advances in the design and prediction of the quasi-static and dynamic performance of brittle materials, there remain many challenges associated with their design and synthesis, computational modeling, and experimental testing. Many of these challenges involve mathematical concepts such as incorporating uncertainty into models, understanding and controlling spatial correlations between flaws and defects, and validating computational models using a small number of experiments.

The goal of this workshop is to bring new perspectives to the challenges associated with failure of brittle materials. Leading experts in various branches of mathematics and statistics will be brought together with researchers employing theory, models, and experiments to study brittle failure, in an effort to generate new and novel ideas for future research that can overcome current mathematical bottlenecks. The specific topics to be discussed at the workshop will be finalized after discussions with prospective participants, but may include the use of uncertainty quantification, stochastic differential equations, and probability theory and statistics in synthesis, modeling, and testing protocols for brittle materials.

If you are interested in attending please email Bess Bieluczyk, [email protected]. All requests will be reviewed and approved by the steering committee.

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April 1: Finalized schedule sent to participants
May 20 – 21: Workshop at Johns Hopkins University
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This workshop will be held from Monday, May 20 to Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

The program will be finalized after discussions with prospective participants. A tentative schedule with likely starting and ending times is shown below.

May 20, 2019

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Workshop presentations and discussions
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Workshop lunch
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Workshop presentations and discussions

May 21, 2019

8:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Workshop presentations and discussions
12:30 PM – Closing and departure
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A room block is available at the Inn at the Colonnade. Click here to reserve your room at our special rate.

Campus Map (The star on the right side of the map indicates the Colonnade)

Directions from BWI
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Ryan C. Hurley, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
James Hogan, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Surya Kalidindi, Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Contact

Scientific Contact: Ryan Hurley, [email protected]
Administrative Contact: Bess Bieluczyk, [email protected]