Prof. Wei Chen
Wilson-Cook Professor in Engineering Design
Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Northwestern University
Friday, Sep 26th at 3:00pm
L105 WEB
ABSTRACT: Superior performance of future material systems can be achieved by optimizing the heterogeneity of materials and structures. However, designing such advanced material systems poses challenges in integrating knowledge and representation from multiple disciplines and domains such as materials, manufacturing, structural mechanics, and design optimization. Data-driven design methods, combined with physics-based modeling and simulation, provide a seamless integration of predictive materials modeling, manufacturing, and design optimization, enabling the accelerated design and deployment of advanced material systems. In this talk, we will introduce state-of-the-art statistical inference and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods for designing nano- and microstructural materials and complex multiscale metamaterial systems. We will discuss the paradigm shifts in design of emerging materials systems and present novel data-driven and AI enabled design methods that integrate machine learning, mixed-variable Latent Variable Gaussian Process (LVGP) modeling, Bayesian optimization, differentiable simulation, topology optimization, generative design, and the concept of digital twins, for autonomous co-design and manufacturing.
BIO: Dr. Wei Chen is the Wilson-Cook Professor in Engineering Design and Chair of Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. Directing the Integrated DEsign Automation Laboratory (IDEAL- http://ideal.mech.northwestern.edu/), her current research involves the use of statistical inference, machine learning, and uncertainty quantification techniques for design of emerging materials systems including microstructural materials, metamaterials and programmable materials. She serves as the Design Thrust lead for the newly funded NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) on Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing, Moving from Evolution to Revolution (HAMMER), where she works on digital twin systems for concurrent materials and manufacturing process design. Dr. Chen is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S). She served as the Editor-in-chief of the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, the Chair of the ASME Design Engineering Division (DED), and the President of the International Society of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO). She currently serves as the chair of the ASME Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Executive Committee (MEDHEC). Dr. Chen is the recipient of the 2025 ASME Barnett-Uzgiris Product Safety Design Award, 2022 Engineering Science Medal from the Society of Engineering Science (SES), ASME Pi Tau Sigma Charles Russ Richards Memorial Award (2021), ASME Design Automation Award (2015), Intelligent Optimal Design Prize (2005), ASME Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal achievement award (1998), and the NSF Faculty Career Award (1996). She received her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1995.