About This Website

This website presents the research activities and vision of the Granular Micromechanics Research Lab at Florida International University, directed by Anil Misra and Seung Jae Lee. Collectively, they bring more than 40 years of research experience and expertise in granular mechanics, computational modeling, and materials characterization.

Our research focuses on advancing the fundamental understanding of granular and heterogeneous materials through integrated analytical, computational, and experimental micromechanics. We seek to uncover how complex macroscopic behavior emerges from microscopic particle interactions across multiple scales and to translate these insights into predictive frameworks for engineering and scientific applications.

The laboratory has pioneered the Granular Micromechanics Approach (GMA) and the development of generalized micromorphic continuum models for a wide range of materials with particulate characteristics, including geomaterials, biomaterials, concrete, polymers, architectured materials, and metamaterials. By combining particle-scale physics, high-resolution material characterization, and advanced numerical methods, our research aims to bridge the gap between discrete interactions and emergent system-level behavior.

Our work is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning mechanics, materials science, computation, and engineering. Ongoing efforts include granular mechanics, dental interface mechanics, multimodal material characterization using high-resolution techniques, and advanced particle characterization within the Particle Geometry Space (PGS) framework. We also integrate artificial intelligence-driven frameworks, high-performance computing, and innovative simulation paradigms to establish next-generation computational tools for complex discrete systems and materials.

Through this website, we share our vision, research and educational activities, and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing scientific understanding and developing transformative approaches for infrastructure, materials, and energy systems.