Overview
Professor John E. Dolbow came to Duke University from Northwestern University, where he received an MS and PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. During the course of his graduate study, John was a Computational Science Graduate Fellow for the Department of Energy, and he spent a summer working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Dolbow's research concerns the development of computational methods for nonlinear problems in solid mechanics. In particular, he is interested in the use of modern computational methods to model quasi-static and dynamic fracture of structural components and the evolution of interfaces. A native of New Hampshire, Dr. Dolbow received his Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Hampshire. In 2020, he became an Assistant Vice President for Research for Duke University.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
·
2018 - Present
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering
Professor of Mathematics
·
2014 - Present
Mathematics,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
·
2018 - Present
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Bass Fellow
·
2014 - Present
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science,
Pratt School of Engineering
Recent Publications
A variational phase-field framework for thermal softening and dynamic ductile fracture
Journal Article Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering · January 1, 2025 A variational phase field model for dynamic ductile fracture is presented. The model is designed for elasto-viscoplastic materials subjected to rapid deformations in which the effects of heat generation and material softening are dominant. The variational ... Full text CiteClassical variational phase-field models cannot predict fracture nucleation
Journal Article Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering · January 1, 2025 Notwithstanding the evidence against them, classical variational phase-field models continue to be used and pursued in an attempt to describe fracture nucleation in elastic brittle materials. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to provide ... Full text CiteNucleation of Fracture: The First-Octant Evidence Against Classical Variational Phase-Field Models
Journal Article Journal of Applied Mechanics · January 1, 2025 As a companion work to [1], this article presents a series of simple formulae and explicit results that illustrate and highlight why classical variational phase-field models cannot possibly predict fracture nucleation in elastic brittle materials. The focu ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Assessment of the Optimal Settings of TFL for Laser Lithotripsy and Associated Thermal Injury Risk
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2028Normal is not normal: Resolving severe mechanical environments through models, methods, and discovery
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Sandia National Laboratories · 2024 - 2027ACRR Fuel Performance Modeling
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Sandia National Laboratories · 2022 - 2025View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Northwestern University ·
1999
Ph.D.
Northwestern University ·
1998
M.S.
University of New Hampshire ·
1995
B.S.M.E.