About
Elena’s research expertise is in the broad area of mechanics of composite materials. Her primary focus is on application of computational mechanics tools to characterisation and design of composites. The multi-scale material characterisation is based upon the unit cells modelling methodology, in which Elena has an expert knowledge, having co-authored a monograph “Representative Volume Elements and Unit Cells: Concepts, Theory, Application and Implementation”. The monograph is supplemented with an open-source software UnitCells© that offers materials scientists and structural designers a fully automated tool for the characterisation of a wide range of composites. The unit cell characterisation is also an integral part of a design method for 3D woven composites that was developed by Elena. With this in place, one can alter their internal architecture in a systematic and informed way to obtain a desired mechanical behaviour.