Continuum Physics Unit (Gustavo Gioia)

Overview

We are interested in the mechanics of solids and fluids. Research topics have included the peeling and folding of thin solid films, configurational phase transitions in cellular and granular materials, nonlinear fracture mechanics, scaling and size effects in mechanical failure, localized flow in thermoviscoplastic materials, turbulence physics in two and three dimensions, the interaction between turbulence and granular beds, soap-film flows, dense granular flows, and various problems in geological fluid dynamics (volcanic plumes, lava flows, hurricane turbulence, etc).

Within OIST, we share a laboratory and collaborate on many research projects with the Fluid Mechanics Unit.