John Everett Dolbow | Scholars@Duke

John Everett Dolbow
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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 modeling quasi-static and dynamic fracture of structural components, the evolution of interfaces with nonlinear constitutive laws, and developing models for stimulus-responsive hydrogels. A native of New Hampshire, Dr. Dolbow received his Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 2010
Faculty Network Member of The Energy Initiative, Duke University Energy Initiative, Initiatives 2012
Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 2012
Bass Fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 2014

Contact Information

121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708
121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708-0287
john.dolbow@duke.edu (919) 660-5202
http://dcml.pratt.duke.edu/
http://www.duke.edu/~jdolbow

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Northwestern University 1999
- M.S., Northwestern University 1998
- B.S.M.E., University of New Hampshire 1995
Duke Appointment History
- Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Mathematics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2014 - 2017
- Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 2009 - 2012
- Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 2006 - 2010
- Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 1999 - 2006
- Assistant Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 1999
Research
Selected Grants
- Computational Algorithms for Fragmentation awarded by Sandia National Laboratories 2006 - 2018
- Computational Studies of Fracture Networks in Particulate Systems awarded by National Science Foundation 2015 - 2018
- Fracture Integral Routines for X-FEM in MOOSE awarded by Idaho National Laboratory 2015
- Advanced Fracture Modeling for Nuclear Fuel awarded by Idaho National Laboratory 2012 - 2015
- Transformative Skin: Controlled Electromechanical Instability on Polymer Surfaces awarded by National Science Foundation 2012 - 2015
- 12th US National Congress on Computational Mechanics Travel Grant awarded by National Science Foundation 2013 - 2014
- Collaborative Research: Membrane Nanodomains--Prediction and Detection awarded by National Science Foundation 2008 - 2013
- Reduced-volume Fracture Toughness Characterization for Transparent Polymers awarded by Army Research Office 2006 - 2012
- Numerical Methods for Material Systems with Microstructure awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research 2009 - 2012
- Attendees at the Robert J Melosh Medal Symposium awarded by National Science Foundation 2010
- Development of Distributed State Simulators awarded by National Science Foundation 2006 - 2009
- Computational Strategies for Phase Transitions Driven by Coupled Stress and Diffusion: Application to the Kinetics of awarded by Department of Energy 2005 - 2009
- New Numerical Methods for Transient Interaction of Structures with Fluids and Soils awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research 2006 - 2008
- Computational and Experimental Strategies for Investigating Failure in Emerging Soft-Wet Materials awarded by National Science Foundation 2005 - 2007
- Collaborative Research: Surface and Actuation Kinetics of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels awarded by National Science Foundation 2003 - 2007
- WEAVE: Web-based Educational Framework for Analysis, Visualization and Experimentation awarded by National Science Foundation 2002 - 2006
- The Robert J. Melosh Symposium in Finite Element Analysis awarded by National Science Foundation 2005
- Thermomechanical Investigations of High Speed Machining of Aluminum awarded by National Science Foundation 2002 - 2005
- Parallel Cluster for Multi-Scale Computation awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina 2000 - 2003
- Towards Material Systems with Optimized Fracture Response awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina 2001 - 2002
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Conference Papers
  - Spencer, BW, Jiang, W, Dolbow, JE, and Peco, C. "Pellet cladding mechanical interaction modeling using the extended finite element method." January 1, 2016.
- Journal Articles
  - Peco, C, Chen, W, Liu, Y, Bandi, MM, Dolbow, JE, and Fried, E. "Influence of surface tension in the surfactant-driven fracture of closely-packed particulate monolayers." Soft matter 13, no. 35 (September 2017): 5832-5841. Full Text
  - Zhang, Z, and Dolbow, JE. "Remeshing strategies for large deformation problems with frictional contact and nearly incompressible materials." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 109, no. 9 (March 2, 2017): 1289-1314. Full Text
  - Stershic, AJ, Dolbow, JE, and Moës, N. "The Thick Level-Set model for dynamic fragmentation." Engineering Fracture Mechanics 172 (March 2017): 39-60. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Farhat, C, Harari, I, and Lew, A. "Special Issue: Advances in Embedded Interface Methods." Edited by J Dolbow, C Farhat, I Harari, and A Lew. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 104, no. 7 (November 16, 2015): 469-471. Full Text
  - Jiang, W, Annavarapu, C, Dolbow, JE, and Harari, I. "A robust Nitsche's formulation for interface problems with spline-based finite elements." Edited by J Dolbow, C Farhat, I Harari, and A Lew. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 104, no. 7 (November 16, 2015): 676-696. Full Text
  - Sukumar, N, Dolbow, JE, and Moës, N. "Extended finite element method in computational fracture mechanics: a retrospective examination." International Journal of Fracture 196, no. 1-2 (November 2015): 189-206. Full Text
  - Jiang, W, and Dolbow, JE. "Adaptive refinement of hierarchical B-spline finite elements with an efficient data transfer algorithm." Edited by R de Borst, C Farhat, J Fish, I Harari, P Letallec, and D Perić. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 102, no. 3-4 (April 20, 2015): 233-256. Full Text
  - Jiang, W, Annavarapu, C, Dolbow, JE, and Harari, I. "A robust Nitsche's formulation for interface problems with spline-based finite elements." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 104, no. 7 (2015): 676-696. Full Text
  - Lin, S, Cao, C, Wang, Q, Gonzalez, M, Dolbow, JE, and Zhao, X. "Design of stiff, tough and stretchy hydrogel composites via nanoscale hybrid crosslinking and macroscale fiber reinforcement." Soft matter 10, no. 38 (October 2014): 7519-7527. Full Text
  - Lee, C, Dolbow, J, and Mucha, PJ. "A narrow-band gradient-augmented level set method for multiphase incompressible flow." Journal of Computational Physics 273 (September 2014): 12-37. Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, Chen, X, Dolbow, JE, and Fried, E. "Going to new lengths: Studying the Navier--Stokes-$\alpha\beta$ equations using the strained spiral vortex model." Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems - Series B 19, no. 7 (August 2014): 2207-2225. Full Text
  - Kindo, TM, Laursen, TA, and Dolbow, JE. "Toward robust and accurate contact solvers for large deformation applications: a remapping/adaptivity framework for mortar-based methods." Computational Mechanics 54, no. 1 (July 2014): 53-70. Full Text
  - Annavarapu, C, Hautefeuille, M, and Dolbow, JE. "A Nitsche stabilized finite element method for frictional sliding on embedded interfaces. Part I: Single interface." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 268 (January 2014): 417-436. Full Text
  - Kindo, TM, Laursen, TA, and Dolbow, JE. "Toward robust and accurate contact solvers for large deformation applications: A remapping/adaptivity framework for mortar-based methods." Computational Mechanics 54, no. 1 (January 1, 2014): 53-70. Full Text
  - Annavarapu, C, Hautefeuille, M, and Dolbow, JE. "A Nitsche stabilized finite element method for frictional sliding on embedded interfaces. Part II: Intersecting interfaces." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 267 (December 1, 2013): 318-341. Full Text
  - Embar, A, Dolbow, J, and Fried, E. "Microdomain evolution on giant unilamellar vesicles." Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology 12, no. 3 (2013): 597-615. Full Text
  - Annavarapu, C, Hautefeuille, M, and Dolbow, JE. "Stable imposition of stiff constraints in explicit dynamics for embedded finite element methods." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 92, no. 2 (2012): 206-228. Full Text
  - Annavarapu, C, Hautefeuille, M, and Dolbow, JE. "A robust Nitsche's formulation for interface problems." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 225-228 (2012): 44-54. Full Text
  - Embar, A, Dolbow, J, and Fried, E. "Microdomain evolution on giant unilamellar vesicles." Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology (2012): 1-19. Full Text
  - Hautefeuille, M, Annavarapu, C, and Dolbow, JE. "Robust imposition of Dirichlet boundary conditions on embedded surfaces." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 90, no. 1 (2012): 40-64. Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, Dolbow, JE, and Fried, E. "Numerical study of the grain-size dependent Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of bulk nanocrystalline materials." International Journal of Solids and Structures 49, no. 26 (2012): 3942-3952. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, and Harari, I. "Erratum: An efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 88, no. 12 (2011): 1344--. Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, Dolbow, JE, and Fried, E. "The Navier-Stokes-αβ equations as a platform for a spectral multigrid method to solve the Navier-Stokes equations." Computers and Fluids 44, no. 1 (2011): 102-110. Full Text
  - Sanders, J, Dolbow, JE, Mucha, PJ, and Laursen, TA. "A new method for simulating rigid body motion in incompressible two-phase flow." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 67, no. 6 (2011): 713-732. Full Text
  - Elson, EL, Fried, E, Dolbow, JE, and Genin, GM. "Phase separation in biological membranes: integration of theory and experiment." Annu Rev Biophys 39 (2010): 207-226. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Embar, A, Dolbow, J, and Harari, I. "Imposing dirichlet boundary conditions with Nitsche's method and spline-based finite elements." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 83, no. 7 (2010): 877-898. Full Text
  - Harari, I, and Dolbow, J. "Analysis of an efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems." Computational Mechanics 46, no. 1 (2010): 205-211. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, and Harari, I. "An efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 78, no. 2 (2009): 229-252. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J. "The Melosh competition." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 45, no. 4 (2009): 237--. Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, Cassiani, M, Albertson, JD, Dolbow, JE, Fried, E, and Gurtin, ME. "Impact of the inherent separation of scales in the Navier-Stokes- αβ equations." Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics 79, no. 4 (2009). Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, and Dolbow, JE. "An edge-bubble stabilized finite element method for fourth-order parabolic problems." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 45, no. 8-9 (2009): 485-494. Full Text
  - Laursen, TA, Dolbow, JE, Jung, Y, and Sanders, J. "From contact mechanics to fluid/structure interaction: Recent developments in interface discretization and stabilization." Computational Plasticity X - Fundamentals and Applications (2009).
  - Sanders, JD, Dolbow, JE, and Laursen, TA. "On methods for stabilizing constraints over enriched interfaces in elasticity." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 78, no. 9 (2009): 1009-1036. Full Text
  - Stanciulescu, I, Dolbow, JE, and Zauscher, S. "Computational modeling of surface phenomena in soft-wet materials." International Journal of Solids and Structures 46, no. 6 (2009): 1334-1344. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Mosso, S, Robbins, J, and Voth, T. "Coupling volume-of-fluid based interface reconstructions with the extended finite element method." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 197, no. 5 (2008): 439-447. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE, and Franca, LP. "Residual-free bubbles for embedded Dirichlet problems." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 197, no. 45-48 (2008): 3751-3759. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE, and Laursen, TA. "The Melosh Competition." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 44, no. 5 (2008): 227--. Full Text
  - Chang, DP, Dolbow, JE, and Zauscher, S. "Switchable friction of stimulus-responsive hydrogels." Langmuir 23, no. 1 (January 2, 2007): 250-257. Full Text Link to Item
  - Dolbow, JE. "The Melosh Competition." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 43, no. 5 (2007): 345--. Full Text
  - Kim, T-Y, Dolbow, J, and Fried, E. "A numerical method for a second-gradient theory of incompressible fluid flow." Journal of Computational Physics 223, no. 2 (2007): 551-570. Full Text
  - Kim, TY, Dolbow, J, and Laursen, T. "A mortared finite element method for frictional contact on arbitrary interfaces." Computational Mechanics 39, no. 3 (2007): 223-235. Full Text
  - Korchagin, V, Dolbow, J, and Stepp, D. "A theory of amorphous viscoelastic solids undergoing finite deformations with application to hydrogels." International Journal of Solids and Structures 44, no. 11-12 (2007): 3973-3997. Full Text
  - Mourad, HM, Dolbow, J, and Harari, I. "A bubble-stabilized finite element method for Dirichlet constraints on embedded interfaces." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 69, no. 4 (2007): 772-793. Full Text
  - Sanders, J, Dolbow, J, and Laursen, T. "A stabilized treatment of arbitrarily oriented interfaces." Computational Plasticity - Fundamentals and Applications, COMPLAS IX , no. PART 1 (2007): 145-148.
  - Dolbow, J. "The Melosh Competition." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 42, no. 7 SPEC. ISS. (2006): 569--. Full Text
  - Ji, H, Mourad, H, Fried, E, and Dolbow, J. "Kinetics of thermally induced swelling of hydrogels." International Journal of Solids and Structures 43, no. 7-8 (2006): 1878-1907. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Fried, E, and Ji, H. "A numerical strategy for investigating the kinetic response of stimulus-responsive hydrogels." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 194, no. 42-44 (2005): 4447-4480. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Fried, E, and Shen, AQ. "Point defects in nematic gels: The case for hedgehogs." Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis 177, no. 1 (2005): 21-51. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE. "The Melosh competition." Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 41, no. 7-8 (2005): 685--. Full Text
  - Mourad, HM, Dolbow, J, and Garikipati, K. "An assumed-gradient finite element method for the level set equation." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 64, no. 8 (2005): 1009-1032. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Fried, E, and Ji, H. "Chemically induced swelling of hydrogels." Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 52, no. 1 (2004): 51-84. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE, and Devan, A. "Enrichment of enhanced assumed strain approximations for representing strong discontinuities: Addressing volumetric incompressibility and the discontinuous patch test." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 59, no. 1 (2004): 47-67. Full Text
  - Ji, H, and Dolbow, JE. "On strategies for enforcing interfacial constraints and evaluating jump conditions with the extended finite element method." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 61, no. 14 (2004): 2508-2535. Full Text
  - Bellec, J, and Dolbow, JE. "A note on enrichment functions for modelling crack nucleation." Communications in Numerical Methods in Engineering 19, no. 12 (2003): 921-932. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE, and Gosz, M. "On the computation of mixed mode stress intensity factors in functionally graded materials." International Journal of Solids and Structures 39, no. 9 (2002): 2557-2574. Full Text
  - Dolbow, JE, and Nadeau, JC. "On the use of effective properties for the fracture analysis of microstructured materials." Engineering Fracture Mechanics 69, no. 14-16 (2002): 1607-1634. Full Text
  - Ji, H, Chopp, D, and Dolbow, JE. "A hybrid extended finite element/level set method for modeling phase transformations." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 54, no. 8 (2002): 1209-1233. Full Text
  - Merle, R, and Dolbow, J. "Solving thermal and phase change problems with the eXtended finite element method." Computational Mechanics 28, no. 5 (2002): 339-350. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Moës, N, and Belytschko, T. "An extended finite element method for modeling crack growth with frictional contact." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 190, no. 51-52 (2001): 6825-6846. Full Text
  - Daux, C, Moës, N, Dolbow, J, Sukumar, N, and Belytschko, T. "Arbitrary branched and intersecting cracks with the extended finite element method." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 48, no. 12 (2000): 1741-1760.
  - Dolbow, J, Moes, N, and Belytschko, T. "Modeling fracture in Mindlin-Reissner plates with the extended finite element method." Int. J. Solids Struct. (UK) 37, no. 48-50 (2000): 7161-7183. (Academic Article) Full Text Link to Item
  - Dolbow, J, Moës, N, and Belytschko, T. "Discontinuous enrichment in finite elements with a partition of unity method." Finite elements in analysis and design 36, no. 3 (2000): 235-260. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, Moës, N, and Belytschko, T. "Modeling fracture in Mindlin-Reissner plates with the extended finite element method." International Journal of Solids and Structures 37, no. 48 (2000): 7161-7183.
  - Dolbow, J, and Belytschko, T. "Numerical integration of the Galerkin weak form in meshfree methods." Computational Mechanics 23, no. 3 (1999): 219-230. Full Text
  - Dolbow, J, and Belytschko, T. "Volumetric locking in the element free Galerkin method." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 46, no. 6 (1999): 925-942.
  - Moës, N, Dolbow, J, and Belytschko, T. "A finite element method for crack growth without remeshing." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 46, no. 1 (1999): 131-150.
  - Belytschko, T, Krongauz, Y, Dolbow, J, and Gerlach, C. "On the completeness of meshfree particle methods." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 43, no. 5 (November 15, 1998): 785-819. Full Text
  - Belytschko, T, Krongauz, Y, Dolbow, J, and Gerlach, C. "On the completeness of meshfree particle methods." Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. (UK) 43, no. 5 (1998): 785-819. (Academic Article) Full Text Link to Item
  - Belytschko, T, Krongauz, Y, Dolbow, J, and Gerlach, C. "On the completeness of meshfree particle methods." International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 43, no. 5 (1998): 785-819. Full Text
  - Gosz, M, Dolbow, J, and Moran, B. "Domain integral formulation for stress intensity factor computation along curved three-dimensional interface cracks." International Journal of Solids and Structures 35, no. 15 (1998): 1763-1783.
  - Dolbow, J, and Gosz, M. "Effect of out-of-plane properties of a polyimide film on the stress fields in microelectronic structures." Mechanics of Materials 23, no. 4 (1996): 311-321. Full Text
  - Gosz, MR, Moran, B, and Dolbow, JE. "Interaction integral formulation for computing stress intensity factors along curved bimaterial interface cracks." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Aerospace Division (Publication) AD 52 (1996): 107-121. (Academic Article)
  - Gosz, MR, Moran, B, and Dolbow, JE. "An interaction integral formulation for computing stress intensity factors along curved bimaterial interface cracks." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Aerospace Division (Publication) AD 52 (1996): 107-121.
  - Gosz, MR, and Dolbow, JE. "Influence of out-of-plane insulator properties on the interfacial stresses in periodic electronic structures." American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Paper) (1995): 10pp-.
  - Zhang, Z, Jiang, W, Dolbow, JE, and Spencer, BW. "A modified moment-fitted integration scheme for X-FEM applications with history-dependent material data (Published online)." Computational Mechanics . Full Text
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- CEE 780: Internship 2018
- ME 758S: Curricular Practical Training 2018
- CEE 530: Introduction to the Finite Element Method 2017
- ME 524: Introduction to the Finite Element Method 2017
- EGR 201L: Mechanics of Solids 2016

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Conference Papers

Journal Articles

Recent Courses