Joseph Labuz

Joseph Labuz is a Professor in the Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering department at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on the mechanical behavior of micro-cracked solids, particularly rock-like materials, and he has developed specialized testing apparatuses for this purpose.

• Plane-strain apparatus design (U.S. Patent 5,063,785)
• Acoustic emission analysis for deformation localization
• Investigation of size effects in brittle materials

His work contributes to understanding fracture mechanics, carbon mineralization, and geotechnical stability. Current projects include stochastic modeling of quasi-brittle damage, cellular metamaterials for stress localization, and probabilistic failure criteria for composites. Collaborations span NSF, DOE, and industry partners.

Research Trends: Recent publications emphasize fracture mechanics (mode I toughness, probabilistic failure criteria), carbon mineralization in ultramafic rocks, and hydro-mechanical couplings. Techniques include acoustic emission monitoring and advanced material testing under multiaxial loading.