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: 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: 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)

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.

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

New article from the group: Cantón-Sánchez, R. and Romero, I. (2025). Fluid-structure interaction between dimensionally-reduced nonlinear dragged solids and incompressible flows, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 446, 118211 (link)

In this article, we propose a new framework that allows the coupling of structural models (beams, shells, etc.) with incompressible flows based on the Navier-Stokes equations. The idea is based on leveraging standard ALE fluid/solid interaction methods with new operators that transfer the structural kinematics to surrogate solids that enclose the latter. Numerical examples illustrate these ideas.

New article: E. Bell-Navas, D. Portillo, I. Romero (2025). A fully variational numerical method for structural topology optimization based on a Cahn-Hilliard model. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (445) (enlace)

New article from the group: Romero, I. and Ortiz, M. (2025). An energy-stepping Markov Monte Carlo method. Meccanica (60), pg. 1411-1436 (link)

We have a new article on the modelling of mass diffusion with particle methods based on optimal transport theory.

New article from the group: Ortiz-Toranzo, Á. and Romero, I. (2024). Finite Element Discretization of the Thermo-Diffusive-Mechanical Problem with Large Deformations, Revista Internacional de Métodos Numéricos para Cálculo y Diseño en Ingeniería, 40. (enlace)