Dr. Tian "Tim" Chen
Kamel Salama Endowed Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace EngineeringDr. Tian Chen leads the Architected Intelligent Matter (A.I.M.) Laboratory at the University of Houston. The two research interests of the lab lie at the intersection of mechanics, computational design, and materials science. They explore the theme of programmable matter, i.e., materials whose functionalities that can be digitally controlled. The first thrust focuses on the programmable shape transformation of surfaces, recognizing that predictable transformation of surfaces can have significant engineering applications. The second thrust focuses on programming the mechanical behavior of architected materials. In both cases, the ultimate goal is to understand the mechanistic behavior of material-based systems that can self-reconfigure and adapt to optimally perform under changing environmental conditions. His research projects are funded by National Science Foundation (NSF), the University of Houston, NASA, and the Haythornthwaite Foundation.
Some articles about Dr. Chen and his colleagues' research:
- Researchers engineer a material that can perform different tasks depending on temperature, 2023, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- The Geometry of Basket Weaving, 2021, Physics magazine
- Weaving smooth 3D shapes with curved ribbons, 2021, Nature Reviews Physics
- Mechanical memory written and read remotely, 2021, Nature News & Views
- Auf Knopfdruck wird Weiches fest und Festes weich, 2021, NZZ
- Folded Solar Panel Opens Without Power Source, 2019, Physics magazine
- A solar panel that unfolds in sunlight could power spacecraft, 2019, New Scientist
- This solar array expands itself at the right temperature, 2019, TechCrunch
- Self-powered soft robots, 2018, CBS News
Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Initiation Grant recipient
Swiss National Science Foundation Post-Doc Mobility Fellowship
ETH Medal for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis, ETH Zurich
Cum Laude, Delft University of Technology, 2014
Minisymposium organizer, SES Annual Technical Meeting, 2022, 2023, 2024
Minisymposium organizer, World Congress on Computational Mechanics, 2024
Minisymposium organizer, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, 2024
Conference organizer, 11th Annual Texas Soft Matter Meeting
Associate editor, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Selected Publications
- Zhang, Z., Brandt, C., Jouve, J., Wang, Y., Chen, T., Pauly, M., & Panetta J., (2023), “Computational Design of Flexible Planar Microstructures“, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), 42 (6), 1-16.
- Xue, J., Baizhikova, Z., Ballarini, R., & Chen, T., (2023), “Creating Geometric Imperfections in Thin-Walled Structures using Acoustic Excitation“, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 90(12):121014.
- Li, W., Wang, Y., Chen, T., & Zhang, X.J., (2023), “Algorithmic encoding of adaptive responses in temperature-sensing multi-material architectures”, Science Advances, 9 (47), eadk0620, Cover article.
- Koh, M., Wang, Y., Shea, K., & Chen, T., (2023), “Shape reconfiguring bistable structures using heat activated fibers”, Engineering Structures, 295, 116792.
- Grelz, H., & Chen, T., (2023), “Intelligent matter that senses, calculates, and reacts: A story of electronics, computation, and mechanics”, Matter 6 (8), 2550-2552.
- Chen, T., (2023), “Programming material logic using magnetically controlled bistability”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 120(17), e2304391120.
- Wang, Y., Ren, Y., & Chen, T., (2023), “From kirigami to hydrogels: a tutorial on designing conformally transformable surfaces”, Journal of Applied Mechanics, 90 (4), 044801.
- Poincloux, S., Vallet, C., Chen, T., Sano, T.G., & Reis, P. M., (2022), “Indentation and stable states of weaved domes”, Extreme Mechanics Letters, 59, 101968.
- Wirth, M., Shea, K., & Chen, T., (2022), “3D-printing textiles: multi-stage characterization of tensile properties of additively manufactured biaxial weaves”, Materials and Design, 225, 111449.
- Baek, C., Martin, A., Poincloux, S., Chen, T., & Reis, M. P., (2021), “Smooth triaxial weaving with naturally curved ribbons”, Phys. Rev. Lett., 127(10), 104301, Editors' suggestion, Cover article, Physics Synopsis.
- Chen, T., Panetta, J., Schaubelt, M., & Pauly, M., (2021), “Bistable Auxetic Surface Structures”, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), 40(4), Art. 39.
- Ren, Y., Panetta, J., Chen, T., Isvoranu, F., Poincloux, S., Brandt, C., Martin, A., & Pauly, M., (2021), “3D Weaving with Curved Ribbons”, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), 40(4), Art. 127.
- Panetta, J., Isvoranu, F., Chen, T., Siefert, E., Roman, B., & Pauly, M., (2021), “Computational Inverse Design of Surface-based Inflatables”, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), 40(4), Art. 40.
- Chen, T., & Shea. K., (2021), “Computational design of multi-stable, reconfigurable surfaces”, Materials & Design, 205, 109688.
- Chen, T., Pauly, M., & Reis, M. P., (2021), “A reprogrammable mechanical metamaterial with stable memory”, Nature, 589(7842), 386-390.
- Poincloux, S., Chen, T., Audoly, B., & Reis, M. P., (2021), “Bending response of a book with internal friction”, Phys. Rev. Lett., 126(21), 218004, Editors' suggestion.
- Chen, T., Bilal, R. O., Lang, R., Daraio, C., & Shea, K., (2019), “Autonomous Deployment of a Solar Panel Using an Elastic Origami and Distributed Shape Memory Polymer Actuators”, Phys. Rev. Applied, 11(6), 064069, Editor's suggestion, Featured in Physics.
- Wagner, M., Lumpe, T., Chen, T., & Shea, K., (2019), “Programmable, Active Lattice Structures: Unifying Stretch-Dominated and Bending-Dominated Topologies”, Extreme Mechanics Letters, 29, 100461.
- Chen, T., & Shea, K., (2018), “An Autonomous Programmable Actuator and Shape Reconfigurable Structures Using Bistability and Shape Memory Polymers”, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 5(2), 91-101.
- Chen, T., Bilal, R. O., Shea, K., & Daraio, C., (2018), “Harnessing Bistability for Directional Propulsion of Untethered, Soft Robots”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(22), 5698-5702.
- Chen, T., Mueller, J., & Shea, K., (2017), “Integrated Design and Simulation of Tunable, Multi-State Structures Fabricated Monolithically with Multi-Material 3D Printing”, Scientific Reports, 7, 45671.
- Wagner, M., Chen, T., & Shea, K., (2017), “Large Shape Transforming 4D Auxetic Structures Using a 3D Printed Shape Memory Polymer”, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 4(3), 133-142.