Elham Sahraei

Elham Sahraei is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the College of Engineering, Temple University. She leads the Electric Vehicle Safety Lab (EVSL), focusing on the mechanical safety of lithium-ion batteries under extreme loading conditions, with applications in automotive and defense sectors.

Research Interests:

• Lithium-ion Batteries
• Crashworthiness
• Structural Mechanics
• Occupant Protection
• Finite Element Modeling
• Battery Safety in Electric Vehicles

Her research integrates experimental characterization, computational modeling, and system-level design to enhance battery safety under mechanical abuse. She utilizes finite element analysis to simulate battery behavior under axial, lateral, and bending loads, contributing to safer electric vehicle architectures.

Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications (2020–2022) demonstrate a consistent focus on developing anisotropic, homogenized, and validated models for lithium-ion cells, with emphasis on separator mechanics, electrolyte-solid interactions, and multi-axis mechanical response. These works support the design of safer battery packs for electric buses and high-performance vehicles.

Scientific Sponsorship and Collaboration:

• Automotive Industry
• FE Software Companies
• State Programs
• Office of Naval Research
• MIT Battery Consortium (former co-director)
• Major sponsors: Mercedes Benz R&D North America, PSA Group, Jaguar Land-Rover, AVL, LG Chem, Boston Power
• Collaborations with National Renewable Energy Lab and Ford-MIT Alliance

Academic Advising and Grants: As director of EVSL, she mentors students and researchers in battery safety and crash modeling. Her work is supported by competitive grants from federal agencies and industry partners, reflecting strong translational impact in both academia and automotive innovation.

Laboratory and Team: She directs the Electric Vehicle Safety Lab (EVSL), which conducts experimental and computational research on battery mechanical integrity, full-scale vehicle crash analysis, and roadside safety structures.