Robert L. Lowe

Robert L. Lowe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Dayton, School of Engineering. He is a full-time faculty member actively engaged in research and teaching in mechanics, materials, and computational modeling. His work bridges theoretical modeling with experimental validation in advanced materials.

His research interests include:

• Mechanics of soft functional materials
• Additively manufactured materials (metals, polymers, hydrogels)
• Plastic deformation and ductile fracture of aerospace metals
• Multi-scale, multi-physics topology optimization
• Constitutive modeling and computational mechanics
• Structural analysis and wave propagation

His recent publications (2022–2025) reflect a strong focus on dielectric elastomers, multiscale optimization, fracture mechanics of aerospace alloys, and 3D-printed functional polymers. These works span nonlinear dynamics, self-healing materials, thermomechanical analysis, and advanced simulation techniques, indicating a consistent trajectory in smart and adaptive materials systems.

Scientific awards include:

• New Materials Educator Award, ASEE Materials Division (2022)
• AFRL Summer Faculty Fellowship (2021, 2019)
• UD-UDRI Summer Research Fellowship (2018)

He advises research students and leads a research group focused on constitutive modeling and simulation. His work is supported by collaborations with AFRL and UDRI. He teaches core courses such as Mechanics I, Engineering Materials, Continuum Mechanics, and Mechanics of Soft Materials.

He is affiliated with professional societies including ASME, ASEE, USACM, SES, and Sigma Xi. His research lab focuses on experimental characterization and computational modeling of advanced materials, particularly for aerospace and soft robotic applications.