Anoush Poursartip

Dr. Anoush Poursartip is a Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from Cambridge and is a registered Professional Engineer in British Columbia. His office is located at FF 113 in the Materials Engineering building.

Education:

• B.A., Ph.D. (Cambridge)
• P. Eng (Professional Engineer)

Research Interests:

Dr. Poursartip's research focuses on polymer matrix composite materials, with particular emphasis on damage growth in service and processing science for efficient manufacturing. His work combines experimental techniques with theoretical modeling to develop comprehensive understanding of composite material behavior. The research program has evolved to address the commercial viability of polymer matrix composites, emphasizing the critical interrelationship between material properties, design considerations, and market penetration.

His collaborative research with Dr. Reza Vaziri integrates solid mechanics and numerical modeling with materials characterization, creating a powerful interdisciplinary approach. Current research directions include processing science, damage growth under impact and fatigue loading, and the emerging recognition that future materials research must address component-level behavior where material-structure-process interactions become paramount.

Research Publications Analysis:

The publication record demonstrates a sustained focus on composite material mechanics spanning over two decades. Research themes consistently address process-induced stresses, damage progression, and manufacturing optimization. Recent work has emphasized computational efficiency in modeling residual stresses during cure cycles and structural-level modeling for predicting damage development in composite laminates. The research trajectory shows increasing sophistication in modeling approaches, moving from analytical solutions to advanced finite element implementations, while maintaining strong experimental validation.

Research Collaborations & Industry Connections:

Dr. Poursartip maintains extensive collaborations with industry partners including Boeing, Department of National Defence (DND), Pacific Safety Products, and previously Allied-Signal for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber development. These partnerships ensure research relevance to real-world engineering challenges and facilitate technology transfer from academic research to industrial applications.

Laboratory & Research Facilities:

The research group operates state-of-the-art experimental and numerical modeling facilities within the Composites Research Network at UBC. These facilities support comprehensive characterization of composite materials under various loading conditions and environmental exposures, complemented by advanced computational capabilities for process simulation and structural analysis.

Future Research Directions:

Dr. Poursartip envisions extending current work to address component-level material behavior, emphasizing the synthesis of knowledge for engineering decision-making. Future research will increasingly focus on answering critical questions from end-users regarding design, processing, in-service behavior, maintainability, and repair strategies for composite structures.