Assistant Professor

Dr. Svolos’ research focuses on the development of analytical and numerical techniques at the intersection of solid mechanics and applied mathematics, with application to multiphysics problems including failure modes such as brittle and ductile fracture in thermomechanical systems. His long-term research purpose is to develop predictive computational models and efficient numerical techniques that will assist engineers in accurately simulating material failure mechanisms, designing composite structures with desired properties, and preventing rapid collapses of structures.

Dr. Svolos obtained his five-year Diploma and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, his M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Columbia University. Prior to joining UVM, Dr. Svolos worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Fluid Dynamics and Solid Mechanics Group (T-3), Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In addition to conducting research, Dr. Svolos received a Teaching Assistant Excellence Award from Columbia University, and he is deeply passionate about the art of teaching

Publications

See Google Scholar Profile for most recent publications

Svolos, L., Plohr, J. N., Manzini, G., & Mourad, H. M. (2023). “On the convexity of phase-field fracture formulations: Analytical study and comparison of various degradation functions,” International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics. 

Svolos, L., Mourad, H. M., Manzini, G., & Garikipati, K. (2022). “A fourth-order phase-field fracture model: Formulation and numerical solution using a continuous/discontinuous Galerkin method,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 

Svolos, L., Mourad, H. M., Bronkhorst, C. A., & Waisman, H. (2021). “Anisotropic thermal-conductivity degradation in the phase-field method accounting for crack directionality,” Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 

Svolos, L., Berger-Vergiat, L., & Waisman, H. (2020). “Updating strategy of a domain decomposition preconditioner for parallel solution of dynamic fracture problems,” Journal of Computational Physics. 

Svolos, L., Bronkhorst, C. A., & Waisman, H. (2020). “Thermal-conductivity degradation across cracks in coupled thermo-mechanical systems modeled by the phase-field fracture method,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 

Adak, D., Manzini, G., Mourad, H. M., Plohr, J. N., & Svolos, L. (2023). “A C1-conforming arbitrary-order two-dimensional virtual element method for the fourth-order phase-field equation,” Accepted.

Leng, Y., Svolos, L., Adak, D., Boureima, I., Manzini, G., Mourad, H. M., & Plohr, J. N. (2023). “A guide to the design of the virtual element methods for second- and fourth-order partial differential equations,” Accepted.

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Fracture Mechanics
  • Solid Mechanics
  • Multiphysics Modeling
  • Numerical Analysis

Education

  • Ph.D., Columbia University
  • M.S., National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Diploma and M.S., National Technical University of Athens

Contact

Office Location:

213E Votey Hall

Website(s):
  1. Research Gate

Courses Taught

  • CEE 1150 – Applied Mechanics
  • CEE 4730 – Reinforced Concrete