We are a research group at IMDEA Materials working on computational solid, fluid, and structural mechanics. Our activity spans nonlinear mechanics, computational mechanics, numerical analysis, and applied mathematics. We work on the development of robust numerical methods for the solution of complex problems arising in mechanical, aerospace, civil, and materials engineering.
Recent News
New article: A note on data-driven methods for mechanical problems with non-unique solutions
New article: Romero, I. and Ortiz, M. (2026). A note on data-driven methods for mechanical problems with non-unique solutions, Meccanica, 61. (link).
In this article, we show that most of the usual machine learning models have a serious drawback when employed in nonlinear mechanics: they can not predict the bifurcation of solutions and therefore might incur in serious misrepresentations, even for the simplest problem.
New article: Embedding structures in continua: Linear models and finite element discretizations
New article: Portillo, D. and Romero, I. (2026). Embedding structures in continua: linear models and finite element discretizations, /Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering/, 451, 118683. (link).
In this article, we present a /model/ for the embedding of arbitrary deformable structural models inside continua. Additionally, we introduce convergent finite element discretizations of the proposed model. Applications include: reinforced concrete, materials with inclusions, materials with fibers, etc.
New article: A fully variational numerical method for structural topology optimization based on a Cahn-Hilliard model
New article: Castillón, M. and Romero, I. and Segurado, J. (2026). A phase-ield approach to fracture and fatigue analysis: bridging theory and simulation, International Journal of Fatigue, 205, 109397. (link)
Marie Curie postdoctoral opportunities at IMDEA Materials Insitute
IMDEA Materials institute has opened the applications to its Marie Curie program ATENEA.
ATENEA is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship programme. The ATENEA programme will offer ten 30-month Postdoctoral Research (PRs) fellowships in the field of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE).
The programme will launch one open call during its 48 months, offering high-level, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training, both in core and advanced scientific topics and transferable skills. After the programme, the fellows will be well-versed, experienced researchers with highly attractive profiles for the academic and non-academic sectors, particularly for industry.
Ignacio Romero keynote presentation at HFSS
Prof. Ignacio Romero delivered a keynote presentation at the 2nd International Conference on Highly Flexible Slender Structures held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
The talk was entitled “Embedding slender structures in continua: Theory, numerical methods, and applications”, and described recent results of the group that can be already seen in our preprint