The Kamrin group, led by Prof. Ken Kamrin, is based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. Our research focuses broadly on continuum fluid and solid modeling, with an emphasis on highly deforming materials. A particular area of interest is the mechanics and physics of granular materials, a complex class of materials with numerous geophysical, aerospace, and industrial applications. When applicable, continuum modeling can provide predictive power in a fraction of the time required for full micro-level discrete simulation. We aim to improve our understanding of the continuum by developing novel computational methods and physically motivated constitutive relations.
A significant motivational theme is understanding problems that combine fluid- and solid-like behaviors, either geometrically (as in fluid-structure interaction) or constitutively (as in the complex rheology of soft materials). Broad areas of ongoing research include: Constitutive modeling, simulation, and homogenization of amorphous and particulate materials; Eulerian and meshless simulation methods for finite-deformation solid laws; reduced-order methods for fluid or solid behaviours; and mobility theory of flows over textured surfaces. More details about our ongoing work are available on our Research page.
Ken Kamrin and the members of the Kamrin group (2026). Visit the People page to learn more about the group’s members and their activities.
How does sand flow? One of the many fundamental questions under investigation in the Kamrin group. (c/o MIT News)