The Mechanics of Composites for Energy and Mobility Laboratory (Composites Lab) is located at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and is part of the Physical Science and Engineering Division. The Composites Lab started at KAUST in 2009 and is an integrated environment for composite science combining modeling and experimental expertise in a single working environment.

Our laboratory expertise incorporates three main areas:

Developing advanced materials: conducting polymer fibers based on conductive nanoparticles or conductive polymers, multifunctional materials for sensing with tailorable piezo resistivity, biomass-based material and bio-inspired interfaces.

Understanding and predicting the integrity of materials and structures: tracking the degradation of materials and structures by a variety of characterization techniques (X-ray tomography, full field measurements, high resolution microscopy), non-destructive testing (ultrasounds, acoustic emission) and structural health monitoring (electrical impedance tomography, optical fibers).  This research is applicable to a variety of materials ranging from thermoset and thermoplastic laminates to conductive materials for the energy sector. Long-term integrity in aggressive environments, aging for the aeronautical industry and for the oil and gas industry.

Advancing modeling and computational techniques: inverse problems for the identification of material parameters based on full-field measurements, combining techniques between non-local and local continuum mechanics  to simulate severe crack propagation, multiphysics modeling for aging and integrity of multifunctional materials and simulation techniques for electrically conductive nano materials.

A project at the Composites Lab is characterized by the amalgamation of experimental and computational/modeling mechanics and encompasses people with very different backgrounds to ensure we capture all aspects of these complex problems.  In the Composites Lab you will find skills ranging from theoretical mechanics, applied mathematics, computer science to material science and chemical engineering. Our researchers are connected by their common passion for the fascinating potential of composite materials.

The Composites Lab develops and authenticates techniques to achieve better designs of composite material based structures. Much of this research is done in close cooperation with major industrial partners.  This ensures a high level of applied research based on advanced theoretical concepts.

Dr. Gilles Lubineau
Principal Investigator of Mechanics of Composites for Energy and Mobility | Professor of Mechanical Engineering ​​​​​​​