Expertise

Areas: Materials and Structures, Polymer Mechanics Research 

This lab conducts basic and applied research related to polymers and polymer composites, including shape memory polymers and multifunctional materials.

Research Interests:

  • Polymers and Composites
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Lattice Structures
  • Smart Materials and Structures

Keywords/Tags: Polymers Viscoelasticity Finite Element Analysis Multifunctional Materials Smart Materials Lattice Structures

His research focuses on the time-dependent properties of polymers, polymer composites, and computational modeling of shape memory polymers.

Dr. Mailen leads the Polymer Mechanics Research Lab at Auburn University, which conducts basic and applied research related to polymers and polymer composites, with applications in the aerospace industry and beyond. The lab performs both computational and experimental research including finite element analysis, laminated composite manufacturing using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique, and polymer characterization using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and rheology.

Current Research Interests and Projects:

  • Polymers and polymer composites
  • Multi-physics finite element analysis
  • Time-dependent material behavior
  • Smart materials and structures
  • Self-Folding Origami
  • Nanocomposites
  • Laminated composites
  • Aerospace applications of polymers
Communities
Aerospace Engineering
Degrees
PhD, North Carolina State University, Mechanical Engineering, 2017
MMSE, North Carolina State University, Materials Science and Engineering, 2016
MS, Baylor University, Mechanical Engineering, 2012
BS, University of Kansas, Aerospace Engineering, 2007
Keywords
airframe structures and materials finite element analysis elasticity computational mechanics polymeric materials shape memory polymers (smp) self-folding origami