Prof Yuri Estrin

CSIRO Professorial Fellow

PH: +61 (3) 9905 9599
Fax: +61 (3) 9905 4940
Email: [email protected]
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Background

My research interests are focusing on the mechanical properties of metallic materials, particularly on modelling the mechanical response by using fundamental concepts of crystal plasticity and dislocation theory. The ultimate goal of this research is to equip the engineers with physically sound, yet sufficiently simple and user-friendly modelling tools that can be applied for efficient simulations of metal forming operations and the product performance under service conditions.

Through my involvement in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Alloys and the CSIRO Division of Materials Science and Engineering, I participate in various projects aiming at improving the properties of Al, Mg and Ti based light alloys. A particular aim of my research is producing ultrafine grained light alloys that can be used as superior structural materials. By applying special severe plastic deformation techniques, materials with unique properties are produced.

In addition to my work on light alloys, I am also involved in projects on ferrous materials. Strength and plasticity of nanomaterials is a further area to which I am dedicating a great deal of my research activities. My interest in nanomaterials goes beyond their mechanical properties, though: such aspects as suitability of nanostructured metals for applications in hydrogen storage systems, biomedical implants and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are also a significant part of my research. An entirely different area I work in (together with colleagues at UWA and international partners) is geometry-inspired design of novel materials and structures. Using geometry principles, fragmented structures can be produced, with individual 'building blocks' being interlocked and arrested by virtue of their geometry and arrangement only - that is, without any connectors or binder. Such structures exhibit very unusual properties, including enhanced resistance to crack propagation, exceptionally great tolerance to local failures and controllable stiffness, which opens up interesting new avenues in materials design.