Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Structures
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Advancing research at the intersection of scales, physics, and functionalities to engineer next-generation materials and lightweight structures for aerospace, transport and energy applications. The key enabler is bridging multiphysics mechanics modeling and machine learning across spatiotemporal scales to simultaneously enable simulation-driven design and virtual testing of lightweight, multifunctional structures.
About Us
About Us
We are a multidisciplinary research group based at City St George's, University of London, working at the intersection of multiphysics mechanics, computational modelling, and artificial intelligence to drive efficient and sustainable structural designs for aerospace, transport and energy applications.
We develop predictive computational modeling frameworks that transform the interdisciplinary design processes of aircraft, space and vehicular structures made with multifunctional composites. The key enabler is bridging multiphysics mechanics modeling and machine learning across spatiotemporal scales to simultaneously enable simulation-driven design and virtual testing of vehicular structures.
Our research spans advanced composites, ceramic coatings, auxetic structures, and multifunctional materials, including self-healing, thermal protection, electromagnetic energy absorption, sensing, and actuation. We collaborate with leading institutions and industry partners globally, with funding support from organisations such as the EPSRC, Royal Society, Alan Turing Institute, and British Council.
Current News
4 June 2025
'Future Composites' Seminar at Imperial College London
'Future Composites' Seminar at Imperial College London
Dr. Sathiskumar Ponnusami delivered a seminar at Imperial College London on "Enabling Multifunctionalities in Aerospace Structures through Multiphysics and Multiscale Modelling: From Self-healing Coatings to Stealth Composites." Hosted by the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial through the Future Composites Materials and Structures Seminar Series, we had insightful discussions around how predictive modelling tools can enable efficient and lightweight designs for aerospace and vehicular structures and materials.
19 May 2025
Solid Mechanics Seminar at the University of Oxford
Solid Mechanics Seminar at the University of Oxford
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami delivered an invited seminar (Solid Mechanics and Materials Seminar) at the University of Oxford. He spoke about his research on multifunctionalities in aerospace composites, while emphasising the effectiveness of modelling and simulation tools for the design of such multifunctional material/structural systems. We had great discussions with colleagues around potential collaborations on the mechanics of high-temperature materials and composites.
6 March 2025
JEC World Paris - Invited Panel on 'Implementing AI along the Composites Value Chain'
JEC World Paris - Invited Panel on 'Implementing AI along the Composites Value Chain'
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami spoke at an invited panel at the JEC World 2025 Composites Show in Paris. The panel comprised experts from various sectors, and the discussion covered topics from design and manufacturing to testing and operation of composite materials. Sathiskumar highlighted both the potential and the limitations of AI along the aerospace composites value chain.
27 November 2024
British Embassy Rome- Invited Panel and Talk- Organised by UK Science and Innovation Network
British Embassy Rome- Invited Panel and Talk- Organised by UK Science and Innovation Network
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami was invited by the UK Foreign Office to the British Ambassador’s Residence (Villa Wolkonsky) in Rome to participate in a panel discussion and present at a UK-Italy AI event. The purpose is to foster collaboration between the UK and Italy in AI with an increasing emphasis on the recent UK-Italy joint declaration and MoU on Bilateral Cooperation. The event was organised by the British Embassy in Rome and the UK Science and Innovation Network, in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute, Italy’s Future AI research Institute (FAIR), and the Italian Ministry of Research and Universities.
Sathiskumar was an awardee of the UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Exchange Researcher programme 2023/2024, coordinated by The Alan Turing Institute and the UK Foreign Office, to develop such collaborations with Italy. He presented his research on AI applications for the design of aerospace materials, structures and systems. In the invited panel discussion, he highlighted the routes to establishing collaborations between the UK and Italy in Applied AI through Horizon Europe.
03 October 2024
Invited Talk at IMAST Workshop at Capri, Italy on 'Research and Innovation Applied to Materials: This is how the future changes'
Invited Talk at IMAST Workshop at Capri, Italy on 'Research and Innovation Applied to Materials: This is how the future changes'
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami joined a panel of experts from NASA Langley, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), TU Delft, Composites World, Syensqo, Leonardo, and the Italian Aerospace Agency. He presented his research on Applications of AI in Materials Design. The workshop was organised by the Italian Technological District for Polymeric Composite Materials (IMAST).
26 June 2024
Workshop on Mechanics and Machine Learning Organised by our Group - Supported by EPSRC and Royal Society Grants
Workshop on Mechanics and Machine Learning Organised by our Group - Supported by EPSRC and Royal Society Grants
Our Group organised the first workshop on 'Mechanics and Machine Learning'. The workshop was attended by more than 50 researchers with invited talks delivered by academics from City (Dr Ponnusami and Dr Yan), EPFL (Prof. Molinari and Dr Garcia Suarez), and the University of Florida (Prof. Subhash). Academics from EPFL and Florida spend a month at our Group exchanging research ideas and having active discussions.
9 May 2024
Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, FRAeS
Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, FRAeS
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS), the oldest aerospace society in the world. FRAeS is the highest grade attainable at the Royal Aeronautical Society and is bestowed upon those who have made outstanding contributions in an aerospace or aerospace-related profession.
1 January 2024
Appointed as an Associate Editor of the Mechanics of Materials (Elsevier)
Appointed as an Associate Editor of the Mechanics of Materials (Elsevier)
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami is appointed as an Associate Editor for Mechanics of Materials Journal (MECMAT) effective from January 2024. MECMAT is one of the classical decades-old mechanics journals publishing articles on flow, fracture, and constitutive behaviour of materials.
1 January 2024
Exchange Stay at Politecnico di Milano- Alan Turing's UK-Italy AI Researcher Award
Exchange Stay at Politecnico di Milano- Alan Turing's UK-Italy AI Researcher Award
Dr Sathiskumar Ponnusami spent a productive stay of three weeks as a UK-Italy Trustworthy AI Exchange Researcher at Politecnico di Milano in the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology. We discussed the potential role and collaborations in the area of applied AI in aerospace engineering analysis and design (including their limitations). Thanks to The Alan Turing Institute for the Award. Looking forward to some exciting collaborations in this domain. Thanks, Prof. Chiara Bisagni and Prof. Antonio Mattia Grande, for being my excellent hosts.
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