Leif A. Carlsson

Leif A. Carlsson is the J.M. Rubin Foundation Professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University. His research focuses on composite materials, sandwich structures, solid mechanics, and finite element analysis. He holds a Ph.D. from Chalmers University of Technology. His work emphasizes fracture mechanics in composite materials, moisture effects on polymers, and structural integrity of aerospace and marine composites.

Key research areas include honeycomb core mechanics, face/core interface fracture, and environmental degradation of materials. Recent studies explore water diffusion in polymers, thermal effects on composites, and failure modes under various loading conditions. His contributions span over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2009, with a focus on advancing composite material design and durability.

Notable projects include the analysis of single-face honeycomb sandwich structures (2025), geometrical imperfection sensitivity in honeycomb cores (2023), and low-temperature fracture characterization of foam cores (2020). His work bridges experimental testing and computational modeling to address real-world challenges in aerospace and marine engineering applications.