Welcome to the research group website of Prof. Zhenhai Xia at the University of Akron. Our research is focused on the understanding of basic principles that control mechanical properties and behaviors of materials. We study polymeric, metallic and ceramic materials in composite and thin film forms, and the materials mimicking biological materials such as gecko by combining experiment with theory and computation.     

Materials systems and phenomena of interest include polymer, metal and ceramic matrix composites, woven and hybrid materials, thin films, hierarchical structures of bone and gecko, carbon nanotubes and nanofibers. Fundamental concepts include interfacial strength, fracture, fatigue, stiffness, toughness, contact, adhesion, friction, size effects, electro-mechanical and thermal-mechanical coupling, self-assembly, and hierarchical materials design. Applications of research include aerospace lightweight structures, structural damage detection and life prediction, nanotechnology, nano- and hierarchical materials engineering, biomimetics, bio-sensing and drug delivery systems.

Our current research includes i) nanotube/nanofiber reinforced ceramic and polymer matrix composites; ii) Self-sensing and damage detection in composites via electrical resistance; iii) Bio-inspired nanocontact, friction, adhesion and self-cleaning of nanostructural materials. You will find more in-depth information about our ongoing projects and cutting-edge results in corresponding pages of this site.

· Last update: May, 2007