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Tian "Tim" Chen

@ttc.bsky.social
338 followers 122 following 72 posts

Assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering @UHouston. We design programmable materials.

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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We just had a paper published in Nature Communications: standard semiconductor fabrication can turn flat, wafer-made patterns into stable, curved 3D structures -- a step from flexible toward deployable electronics. doi.org/10.1038/s414...
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
New paper in @natcomms.nature.com! We used sound waves to vibrate a silicone mold during casting, imprinting tunable patterns of imperfections into thin shells. The shells then let us study how distributed imperfections trigger buckling. www.nature.com/articles/s41.... See reply for videos!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
A student sent me this, it's too good not to share.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
New in PNAS: we 3D-printed "knits" as 3D entangled solids with programmable stiffness & dissipation. We unify the mechanics of traditional and printed knits across materials and scales - down to loops 50 µm across, the smallest knit ever fabricated. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
To my students, thank you all for presenting me the most prestigious award of all!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Reminder to submit your abstract, due May 1, to MS 4.2 - Advances on the Mechanics of Architected Materials, at SES at Purdue, Oct 11-14, 2026. Looking forward to a great lineup w/ organizers @carlosmportela.bsky.social, Lucas Meza, David Restrepo and Christelle Combescure.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Society of Engineering Science (SES) conf. 2026 will be held at Purdue University Oct. 11-14, 2026. Abstract submission deadline: May 1, 2026. Interested in Architected Materials? Consider submitting an abstract to our mini-symposium 4.2! @carlosmportela.bsky.social, Meza, Restrepo, Combescure
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
My third time at GRC Multifunctional Materials and Structures in Ventura, and I’m giving a talk this time around. It’s gonna be fun.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
For those of you interested in the area of Mechanics of Architected Materials, please join us at USNC-TAM 2026 in sunny Pasadena from June 21-25, 2026 (co-organized with @carlosmportela.bsky.social, Shaikeea, and Meza). Submit your abstract to MS502 by Jan 15: www.usnctam26.org/abstract-sub...
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
@uh.edu magazine featured our research in its Fall 2025 issue! stories.uh.edu/magazine/mag...
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Nikolaos @CornellMAE is giving us @UHEngineering a great talk on sciML!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
It was great to host @LaurenDreier from Princeton @UH_Engineering last weekend where we began experimenting with 3D weaving techniques. She gave a great seminar in the department, and gave us a tour of her art pieces at the APS's DFD Traveling Gallery of Fluid Motion @nl_longnecker.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
We present a unified, multi-scale framework connecting yarn mechanics, stitch geometry, and fabric-level behavior in a new paper published in Extreme Mechanics Letters www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... Another great collaboration with Cosima du Pasquier, Allison Okamura and Skylar Tibbits.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Concluding our mini-symposium with Julia Greer giving a talk to a full house at ses2025!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
On Monday, I am co-hosting three sessions. Come listen to the exciting talks on the advances on mechanical metamaterials!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
I am here with my students (Yue Wang and Ilyes Krida) at SES2025 hosted by @gatechengineers.bsky.social in Atlanta, GA! I am co-hosting 6.1: Advances on the Mechanics of Architected Materials, come attend our talks!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Lovely to be attending a workshop on the “mathematics and physics of entangled metamaterials” in at Tohoku forum for creativity in Sendai, Japan. Thanks to Sam Poincloux for the invitation!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Looking forward to the 2025 SES Meeting in Atlanta, Oct. 12-15, 2025! Please contribute to our symp. "6.1 Mechanics of Architected Materials" before 5/15 - we'll discuss key opportunities+advancements in architected material research. Exp.+Comp.+Theory welcome! @carlosmportela.bsky.social
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Same!!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
I miss snow. But this feels allegorical.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
We developed a experimental & numerical framework for programmable CNC knitted fabrics. By tuning stitch length, pattern, and yarn, we can precisely engineer mechanical behavior - leading to the first industrially knit sleeve optimized for fit & function. arxiv.org/abs/2501.07567
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Tim Wick, a meme from my undergrad class.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Having a coffee at Mercantile. It’s been a nice Thanksgiving.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Having a goblet at rice village.
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Listening to the Koiter medalist Jerry Qi from Georgia tech!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Dept of Mech and Aero Eng at @uhouston.bsky.social, is hiring three faculty members, two in aerospace shorturl.at/XNO6X, and one in Energy Innovations shorturl.at/modyE. Please apply!!
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Tian "Tim" Chen @ttc.bsky.social · 22/09/2023
Fresh off the press! We exploit warping in fused filament fabrication to fabricate planar surfaces that deploy to bistable domes. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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