Rishi Kommalapati

Rishi Kommalapati is a graduate student in mechanical engineering bridging experimental characterization and computational modeling to understand dynamic mechanical behavior of spinodal metamaterials. These aperiodic, self-architected materials exhibit exceptional properties for impact resistance and energy dissipation, yet their behavior under transient loading remains poorly understood due to complex interactions between geometry, constituent material rate sensitivity, and deformation mechanisms. Rishi developed an integrated MATLAB-based framework that connects high-strain rate experimental data, high-framerate image-processing for deformation characterization, and the computation and visualization of derived finite element quantities within a unified workflow. As a MathWorks Fellow, Rishi will extend these computational tools to enable synchronized analysis across multiple data streams, developing automated pipelines for extracting deformation modes and isolating architecture-driven mechanisms from material effects. His work advances visualization and generative design capabilities within the metamaterial communities while opening new pathways for designing next-generation impact-resistant, lightweight materials with broad applications in protective systems and aerospace.