Mohammad Fotouhi

Mohammad Fotouhi is a Lecturer in Materials and Structures at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, where he joined in September 2019. Prior to his current position, he served as a lecturer at the University of the West of England and led the Hybrid Composites developments in the HiPerDuCT programme (EP/I02946X/1, £6.41m) as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol.

Dr. Fotouhi earned his honored MSc (September 2011) and PhD (December 2015) in mechanical engineering with a focus on manufacturing and production. Both his graduate theses centered on acoustic emission-based damage monitoring of composites and were recognized for their quality in a university-wide assessment.

His research expertise spans composites design, manufacturing, and structural integrity. Dr. Fotouhi's current work focuses on generative design, lightweight and smart bio-inspired composites, 4D printed self-morphing structures, and multi-functional materials. He has pioneered innovations in high-performance composite T-joints, pseudo-ductile and notch-insensitive composites, and novel damage detection methodologies. His work bridges fundamental materials science with practical engineering applications, particularly in structural health monitoring systems that can autonomously detect and report damage in composite structures.

Analysis of Dr. Fotouhi's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on structural health monitoring technologies for composite materials. His work integrates multiple approaches including mechanochromic materials that change color when damaged, bio-inspired sensor technologies, acoustic emission monitoring, and machine learning algorithms for damage detection. A significant portion of his research focuses on 'barely visible impact damage' - a critical challenge in composite structures where damage may not be apparent to the naked eye but significantly compromises structural integrity. His work consistently demonstrates the application of advanced manufacturing techniques to create smarter, more reliable composite structures.

• Member of editorial board: Journal of Composites Science
• Member of editorial board: Composite Materials: Science publishing group
• Member of editorial board: SVOA Materials Science & Technology
• Member of editorial board: Journal of Engineering and Technology
• Guest editor: Polymers
• Session chair at international conferences (ICCS and ECCM)

Dr. Fotouhi has secured over £450,000 in competitive research funding as Principal Investigator for his innovative work in composite materials. His research program involves collaborations with multiple institutions and industry partners, particularly in the development of next-generation composite monitoring systems. Before entering academia, he gained three years of industrial R&D experience in reverse engineering, manufacturing, CAD/CAM, and material analysis, which informs his practical approach to research problems.

His laboratory work focuses on developing and testing novel composite structures with integrated sensing capabilities, particularly using thin-ply hybrid composites and mechanochromic materials. His team works at the intersection of materials science, structural engineering, and sensor technology to create composite systems that can not only withstand operational stresses but also report their own health status in real time.