Timothy Truster

Timothy Truster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, within the Tickle School of Engineering. He leads the Computational Laboratory for the Mechanics of Interfaces (CLMI), focusing on advanced computational modeling of material interfaces, including contact, fracture, and delamination phenomena.

Education:

• PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013
• MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010
• BS in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Dayton, 2008

His research centers on computational mechanics, particularly the development of robust and stable numerical methods for modeling interfaces in heterogeneous and composite materials. Key areas include stabilized finite element methods, interfacial damage, frictional contact, high-temperature creep in metals, crystallographic texture effects, and high-performance computing. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with practical engineering applications in structural integrity and material performance.

The 13 publications listed span from 2011 to 2016 and reflect a consistent focus on interface modeling using advanced computational techniques such as discontinuous Galerkin methods, Nitsche formulations, and variational multiscale approaches. These works emphasize numerical stability, algorithmic robustness, and physical consistency in simulating complex interfacial behaviors under finite strains and multiphysics conditions.

Scientific Awards:

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
• Best Poster Award from the United States Association for Computational Mechanics

Truster advises graduate students through his research group, CLMI, where he mentors work in computational modeling and simulation. He has secured research support through prestigious fellowships and likely external grants, though specific grants are not detailed. His lab, the Computational Laboratory for the Mechanics of Interfaces, develops and applies cutting-edge numerical methods for interfacial mechanics in materials and structures, contributing to advancements in composite systems, mechanical joints, and multiscale material modeling.