Larry Lessard

Larry Lessard is a Professor at McGill University specializing in Materials and Structures, based in Room 362 of the Macdonald Engineering Building. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including MECH 210: Mechanics 1, MECH 530: Mechanics of Composite Materials, and MECH 543: Design With Composite Materials.

His educational background includes:

• B.Eng. from McGill University
• M.Sc. from Stanford University
• Ph.D. from Stanford University

Professor Lessard's primary research focuses on composite materials and structures, with current projects spanning Aerospace Composite Design via Automated Fiber Placement, Optimized Composite Structure Design, Failure Analysis and Damage Modeling, and Natural Fiber Composites. His work extends to innovative applications in musical instruments, sports equipment, and robotic systems. The Structures and Composite Materials Laboratory he leads operates on the principle of exploring composite design "From Start to Finish"—integrating material behavior, manufacturing processes, stress analysis, and physical testing.

His publication record demonstrates consistent expertise in multi-objective optimization techniques, structural-manufacturing integration for composites, and progressive fatigue damage modeling—addressing critical challenges in designing durable, high-performance composite structures across engineering domains.

The Structures and Composite Materials Laboratory serves as the operational hub for Professor Lessard's research, systematically covering the entire composite design lifecycle from fundamental material characterization through to final structural validation.