Our undergraduate researcher (also, University Scholar)’s research was featured in UConn Today. He is currently studying the ternary B2 structured Cu-Dy-Y alloys with the high strength and enhanced ductility for space applications (low temperature environment). The deformation mechanisms (dislocation plasticity + twinning + martensitic transformation) of this new material system has not been understood. Wyeth is trying to create and characterize this new material system and to search for a way to improve the low temperature ductility.

UConn Today news article can be found below:

Three CoE Students Pursue In-Depth Research Projects as University Scholars

Lee receives the funding from DOE-BES ($130,000) for the next two years. This funding is the continuation of our research on micro-mechanical characterization of single crystalline metals under different environments (primarily, cryogenic environments). This study will focus on how sample dimension and temperature influence the size-dependent strength and tensile ductility. We will also develop a new mathematical model that can predict a size-dependent stress-strain curve using the finite-size scaling theory and the scale-free intermittency statistics.

We just started to collaborate with Pratt & Whitney to investigate the mechanical properties of grain boundaries of Ti alloys ($30,000)! This new project will study (1) how diffusion bonding influence the mechanical behavior of grain boundaries (impurity segregation and abnormal growth of weak beta-phase) and (2) how the mechanical behavior of twist boundary is affected by the misorientation and the imposed strain rate. Understanding of mechanical behavior of grain boundary will be crucial for the improvement of fatigue resistance of Ti alloys.

Lee received the 2025 UConn Research Excellence Award with Prof. Mark Aindow ($50,000)! This research will focus on the nanomechanical and microstructural characterization of nanoporous amorphous carbon materials with the lightweight, high strength, and high ductility. Our initial work was published at Nature Communications in 2024 and studied the unimodal pore structures. Materials are fabricated by Prof. James Watkins group at UMass Amherst.

• Zhongyuan Li, Ayush Bhardwaj, Jinlong He, Wenxin Zhang, Thomas T. Tran, Ying Li, Andrew McClung, Sravya Nuguri, James J. Watkins, Seok-Woo Lee, “Nanoporous amorphous carbon nanopillars with lightweight, near-theoretical strength, large fracture strain, and high damping capability,” Nature Communications 15, 8151 (2024)  [PDF.pdf][web]

This new project will focus on the influence of various pore distribution (size and number) on mechanical properties. Also, this work will include the fabrication and characterization of bulk-scale nanoporous amorphous carbon materials. This work will enable us to create a new class of structural materials.