Dr Behnam Sobhani Aragh is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Mechanical Engineering at Teesside University. Prior to joining Teesside University, he has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Mechanics of Functional Materials Division of Technical University of Darmstadt (TU-Darmstadt), Germany. At TU-Darmstadt, his research has been focused on the development of efficient and robust thermo-mechanical phase-field modelling of coupled fracture and phase transformation in polycrystalline microstructures. Furthermore, he was involved with micromechanical modelling of high temperature creep behaviour of polymer-derived ceramics nanocomposites. Moreover, his other responsibilities included supervising Hiwi and master students, and teaching activities in Finite Element Methods and Micromechanics modules.

Furthermore, he worked as a postdoc researcher at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), awarded the most prestigious and highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship in Brazil by FAPESP. Considering hydrogen embrittlement mechanism in API steel pipelines, Behnam has developed a hydrogen-induced cracking methodology incorporating the fully coupled problems of elastoplastic deformation and hydrogen transport within cohesive-interface elements framework to predict tearing in high strength steels. Moreover, he has investigated the mechanical buckling and thermal response of nanocomposites shells stiffened by stringer and rings. One of his contributions on the mechanics of nano-composite materials has achieved most citations in the journal Composite Part B: Engineering (Elsevier) with  261 citations. 

Behnam received a Ph.D. in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from Ghent University (UGent), Belgium. In his PhD thesis conducted in Soete Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Construction and Production, he has established novel methodologies for formulations of vibration, buckling, static and thermal stress analyses of composite/nano-composite structures (plates and shells) based on 3-D elasticity theory and 2-D plate theories. Furthermore, he obtained his second doctorate degree (Doctorate of Science (DSc)) in Computational Mechanics from UFRJ. His DSc thesis on the fracture mechanics of porous media and modelling of hydraulic-induced fractures was selected as the best thesis in the Department of Civil Engineering of UFRJ.

Behnam's research interests and background lie in phase-field and cohesive zone modelling, fracture mechanics, mechanics of composite materials, and finite element modelling and analysis of advanced functional materials in multiphysics environment. Behnam has been author/co-author of over 35 papers in high-impact intentionally Science-Citation-Index journals, with a significant citation impact (Google Scholar: H-index=21, 1481 citations). 

Behnam's research focuses on the applicability of computational techniques and novel numerical simulations to provide a deep understanding and prediction of materials behaviour and structural responses in a variety of engineering applications, thereby facilitating environmental sustainability and leading to a substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. In brief, his research targets two main topics on the Computational Modelling of Materials in Multiphysics Context (CM3C) as follows:

• Fracture mechanisms of materials in multiphysics environments (applied to: Lithium-ion batteries, Hydrogen embrittlement, Shape memory alloys/ceramics).
• Multi-scale modelling, design and analysis of advanced composite/nano-composite structures (including: Variable angle tows, Porous functionally graded composites, CNT-reinforced composites).