
Publications
Featured Paper:

A novel digital lifecycle for Material-Process-Microstructure-Performance relationships of thermoplastic olefins foams manufactured via supercritical fluid assisted foam injection molding
Abstract: This research significantly enhances the applicability of thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) in the automotive industry using supercritical N2 as a physical foaming agent, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional chemical agents. It merges experimental results with simulations to establish detailed material-process-microstructure-performance (MP2) relationships, targeting 5–20% weight reductions. This innovative approach labeled Read more
Pradeep SA, Deshpande AM, Lavertu P-Y, Ting, Z. Aditya, V.A. Yiro, A. Li, G, Pilla, S. "A novel digital lifecycle for Material-Process-Microstructure-Performance relationships of thermoplastic olefins foams manufactured via supercritical fluid assisted foam injection molding." Polym Eng Sci. 2024;1‐19. doi:10.1002/pen.26700
2025 Publications

Publication
27
Thrust I Lead
A critical review and meta-analysis of energy demand, carbon footprint, and
other environmental impacts from carbon fiber manufacturing
Chen, Hao, Heather PH Liddell, Amod A. Ogale, Zoe Chunyu Miao, Muzan Williams Ijeoma, and Michael Carbajales-Dale. "A critical review and meta-analysis of energy demand, carbon footprint, and other environmental impacts from carbon fiber manufacturing 2.". Researchgate (2025)
Lead PI: Michael Carbajales-Dale

Publication
26
Thrust III Lead
A novel laser light absorption model for composite materials in the context of laser ultrasonic testing
Zarei, Alireza, and Srikanth Pilla. "A novel laser light absorption model for composite materials in the context of laser ultrasonic testing." Optik (2025): 172260.
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla

Publication
25
Thrust I Lead
Thrust III Support
Electricity use in big area additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites
Chen, Hao, Srikanth Pilla, Gang Li, Muzan Williams Ijeoma, and Michael Carbajales-Dale. "Electricity use in big area additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced polymer composites." Scientific Data 11, no. 1 (2024): 1362.
Lead PI: Gang Li
Supporting PI: Srikanth Pilla

Publication
24
Thrust I Lead
Thrust III Support
Convergent laser beam shapes: Unveiling the dynamics of Laser-induced elastic waves in composite materials
Zarei, Alireza, Gang Li, Farhang Pourboghrat, and Srikanth Pilla. "Convergent laser beam shapes: Unveiling the dynamics of Laser-induced elastic waves in composite materials." Results in Physics (2024)
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: Gang Li, Farhang Pourboghrat

Publication
23
Thrust II Lead
PINNs4Drops: Convolutional feature-enhanced physics-informed neural networks for reconstructing two-phase flows
Dreisbach, Maximilian, Elham Kiyani, Jochen Kriegseis, George Karniadakis, and Alexander Stroh. "PINNs4Drops: Convolutional feature-enhanced physics-informed neural networks for reconstructing two-phase flows." arXiv preprint arXiv:2411.15949 (2024)
Lead PI: George Karniadakis

Publication
22
Thrust II Lead
Multi‐Material Gradient Printing Using Meniscus‐enabled Projection Stereolithography (MAPS)
Kunwar, Puskal, Arun Poudel, Ujjwal Aryal, Rui Xie, Zachary J. Geffert, Haven Wittmann, Daniel Fougnier et al. "Multi‐Material Gradient Printing Using Meniscus‐enabled Projection Stereolithography (MAPS)." Advanced Materials Technologies (2024)
Lead PI: Zhen Li

Publication
21
Thrust II Lead
Bridging scales in multiscale bubble growth dynamics with correlated fluctuations using neural operator learning
Lu, M., Lin, C., Maxey, M., Karniadakis, G. E., & Li, Z. (2024). "Bridging scales in multiscale bubble growth dynamics with correlated fluctuations using neural operator learning." International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 180, 104959. (2024)
Lead PI: George Karniadakis

Publication
20
Thrust III Lead
Thrust I Support
Advancing Automotive Light-weighting: Material–Process–Microstructure–Performance (MP2) Relationships of Supercritical Foam Injection of PP–Graphene Nanocomposite Foams and Over-molding
Pradeep, Sai Aditya, et al. "Advancing Automotive Light-weighting: Material–Process–Microstructure–Performance (MP2) Relationships of Supercritical Foam Injection of PP–Graphene Nanocomposite Foams and Over-molding." SAE International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Energy, Environment, & Policy 5.13-05-03-0019 (2024).
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: James Sternberg, Gang Li

Publication
19
Thrust I Lead
A parametrized continuum constitutive model for reinforced thermoplastic composites with mechanically interlocked interface
Kothari, A., Ozsoy, I. B., & Li, G. (2024). "A parametrized continuum constitutive model for reinforced thermoplastic composites with mechanically interlocked interface." International Journal of Solids and Structures", 302, 112994. (2024)
Lead PI: Gang Li

Publication
18
Thrust I Lead
Thrust III Support
Predicting Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed PLA Carbon Fiber Beyond Printing Parameter Dependencies.
Elnaggar, Mostafa, Madhura Athale, Taejoon Park, Koorosh Delavari, Reza Rezaei, and Farhang Pourboghrat. "Predicting Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed PLA Carbon Fiber Beyond Printing Parameter Dependencies." (2024)
Lead PI: Farhang Pourboghrat
Supporting PI: Taejoon Park

Publication
17
Thrust I Lead
Thrust III Support
Finite Element Simulation and Mathematical Modeling of High-Elongation Rate Rib 1* 1 Weft-Knitted Fabric.
Delavari, Koorosh, Taejoon Park, Mostafa Elnaggar, Madhura Athale, and Farhang Pourboghrat. "Finite Element Simulation and Mathematical Modeling of High-Elongation Rate Rib 1* 1 Weft-Knitted Fabric." (2024)
Lead PI: Farhang Pourboghrat
Supporting PI: Taejoon Park

Publication
16
Thrust III Lead
Thrust I Support
Microstructure-Process-Property relationships of PLA-PBSA bimodal foams
Pradeep, SA, Kharbas, H, Turng, LS, Avalos, A, Lawrence, JG., Li, G, & Pilla, S. (2024). "Microstructure-Process-Property relationships of PLA-PBSA bimodal foams." Manufacturing Letters (2024)
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: Gang Li

Publication
15
Thrust III Lead
Thrust I Support
A novel digital lifecycle for Material-Process-Microstructure-Performance relationships of thermoplastic olefins foams manufactured via supercritical fluid assisted foam injection molding
Pradeep SA, Deshpande AM, Lavertu P-Y, Ting, Z. Aditya, V.A. Yiro, A. Li, G, Pilla, S. "A novel digital lifecycle for Material-Process-Microstructure-Performance relationships of thermoplastic olefins foams manufactured via supercritical fluid assisted foam injection molding." Polym Eng Sci. 2024;1‐19. doi:10.1002/pen.26700
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: Gang Li

Publication
14
Thrust II Lead
Droplet bioprinting of acellular and cell-laden structures at high-resolutions
Puskal Kunwar, Ujjwal Aryal, Arun Poudel, Daniel Fougnier, Zachary J Geffert, Rui Xie, Zhen Li, and Pranav Soman (2024) "Droplet bioprinting of acellular and cell-laden structures at high-resolutions" IOP Science (2024)
Lead PI: Zhen Li

Publication
12
Thrust II Lead
Predicting biomass comminution: Physical experiment, population balance model, and deep learning
Lu, Minglei, Yidong Xia, Tiasha Bhattacharjee, Jordan Klinger, and Zhen Li. "Predicting biomass comminution: Physical experiment, population balance model, and deep learning." Powder Technology 441 (2024): 119830 (2024)
Lead PI: Zhen Li

Publication
11
Thrust III Lead
Vapor-induced phase-separation-enabled versatile direct ink writing
Sole-Gras, M., Ren, B., Ryder, B. J., Ge, J., Huang, J., Chai, W., ... & Huang, Y. (2024). "Vapor-induced phase-separation-enabled versatile direct ink writing." Nature Communications, 15(1), 3058 (2024)
Lead PI: Yong Huang

Publication
10
Thrust II Lead
Characterization of partial wetting by CMAS droplets using multiphase many-body dissipative particle dynamics and data-driven discovery based on PINNs
Kiyani, E., Kooshkbaghi, M., Shukla, K., Koneru, R. B., Li, Z., Bravo, L., ... & Karttunen, M. (2024). "Characterization of partial wetting by CMAS droplets using multiphase many-body dissipative particle dynamics and data-driven discovery based on PINNs." Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 985, A7. (2024)
Lead PI: George Karniadakis
Supporting PI: Zhen Li

Publication
09
Thrust III Lead
Sequential Dual Alignments Introduce Synergistic Effect on Hexagonal Boron Nitride Platelets for Superior Thermal Performance
Chen, Y., Gao, Z., Hoo, S.A., Tipnis, V., Wang, R., Mitevski, I., Hitchcock, D., Simmons, K.L., Sun, Y., Sarntinoranont, M., Huang, Y., “Sequential Dual Alignments Introduce Synergistic Effect on Hexagonal Boron Nitride Platelets for Superior Thermal Performance,” Advanced Materials, p.2314097, (2024)
Lead PI: Yong Huang
Supporting PI's: Kevin L. Simmons, Dale Hitchcock

Publication
08
Thrust I Lead
Sequential Selection for Minimizing the Variance with Application to Crystallization Experiments
Caroline Kerfonta, Sunuk Kim, Ye Chen, Qiong Zhang and Mo Jiang. “Sequential Selection for Minimizing the Variance with Application to Crystallization Experiments”, The American Statistician, 1-16, (2024)
Lead PI: Qiong Zhang

Publication
07
Thrust III Lead
Structure-property relationships in flexible and rigid lignin-derived polyurethane foams: A review
Sternberg, J. and Pilla, S. "Structure-property relationships in flexible and rigid lignin-derived polyurethane foams: A review", Materials Today Sustainability, 2024, 25, 100643.
Lead PI's : Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: James Sternberg

Publication
06
Thrust III Lead
Thrust I Support
Deep reinforcement learning for the design of mechanical metamaterials with tunable deformation and hysteretic characteristics
N. K. Brown, A. Deshpande, A. Garland, S. A. Pradeep, G. Fadel, S. Pilla, G. Li, "Deep reinforcement learning for the design of mechanical metamaterials with tunable deformation and hysteretic characteristics," Materials and Design, vol. 235, 112428, (2023).
Lead PI: Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI's: Gang Li

Publication
05
Thrust III Lead
A Thermoplastic Polymer from Lignin: Creating an Extended Polyamide Network through Reactive Kraft Lignin Derivatives
Sternberg, J. & Pilla, S. "A Thermoplastic Polymer from Lignin: Creating an Extended Polyamide Network through Reactive Kraft Lignin Derivatives." ACS Omega, 2023, 8, 43, 40110-40118. (2023)
Lead PI's : Srikanth Pilla
Supporting PI: James Sternberg

Publication
04
Thrust I Lead
Thrust III Support
Design, performance, and cost savings of using GF-PC additively manufactured tooling for stamping of HSS 590 sheet metal
Madhura Athale, Taejoon Park, Ryan Hahnlen, Farhang Pourboghrat. “Design, performance, and cost savings of using GF-PC additively manufactured tooling for stamping of HSS 590 sheet metal.” Journal of Manufacturing Processes 101 (2023), 1-14. (2023)
Lead PI: Farhang Pourboghrat
Supporting PI: Taejoon Park

Publication
03
Thrust II Lead
Thrust I Support
Deep neural operator for learning transient response of interpenetrating-phase composites subject to dynamic loading.
M. Lu, A. Mohammadi, Z. Meng, X. Meng, G. Li and Z. Li. "Deep neural operator for learning transient response of interpenetrating-phase composites subject to dynamic loading." Computational Mechanics, 2023, 72: 563-576.
Lead PI: Zhen Li
Supporting PI's: Gang Li

Publication
01
Thrust II Lead
A Mori-Zwanzig dissipative particle dynamics approach for anisotropic coarse grained molecular dynamics