Publications | Beijun Shen

Journal Articles and Preprints

B. Shen, M. C. Boyce^*. “Composition-dependent nonlinear viscoelastic–viscoplastic behavior and constitutive framework for digitally mixed polymers spanning the glass transition”. arXiv:2609.04399 (2026). [Link]
J. García-Ávila, B. Shen, M. Rausch, M. C. Boyce, A. Buganza-Tepole^*. “Data-driven discovery of composition-dependent constitutive models for hyperelasticity and viscoelasticity of digital materials”. arXiv:2609.04541 (2026). [Link]
Z. Wei⁺, B. Shen^+*, Z. Usmanova, U. H. Bootwala, R. Bai^*. “Thermoviscoelasticity of polydomain liquid crystal elastomers regulated by soft elasticity”. arXiv:2605.11455 (2026). [Link]
B. Shen^*, Y. Jiang, C. M. Yakacki, S. H. Kang^*, T. D. Nguyen. “Combining stretching-dominated and bending-dominated dissipation behavior to optimize energy absorption in liquid crystal elastomer-based lattice structures”. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 209, 106497 (2026). [Link]
B. Shen, M. L. Coughlin, S. O. Nzeh, K. B. Migler, D. O. Kazmer, T. D. Nguyen^*. “The anisotropic structure and mechanical behavior of films extruded from recycled polypropylene”. Polymer Engineering & Science, 66(4), 2503–2523 (2026). [Link]
A. E. H. Chehade, B. Shen, C. M. Yakacki, T. D. Nguyen, S. Govindjee^*. “Finite element modeling of viscoelastic liquid crystal elastomers”. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 125(16), e7510 (2024). [Link]
D. O. Kazmer, S. O. Nzeh^*, B. Shen, D. C. Elbert, R. Nagarajan, M. Sobkowicz-Kline, T. D. Nguyen. “Characterization, processing, and modeling of industrial recycled polyolefins”. Polymer Engineering & Science, 64(10), 4801–4815 (2024). [Link]
N. Hertlein, B. Shen, S. H. Kang, P. R. Buskohl^*. “Computational analysis of buckling-based stiffness programming of liquid crystal elastomer beams”. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC), V008T08A040 (2023). [Link]
S.-Y. Jeon⁺, B. Shen⁺, N. A. Traugutt, Z. Zhu, L. Fang, C. M. Yakacki, T. D. Nguyen, S. H. Kang^*. “Synergistic energy absorption mechanisms of architected liquid crystal elastomers”. Advanced Materials, 34(14), 2200272 (2022). [Link]
B. Shen, S. H. Kang^*. “Designing self-oscillating matter”. Matter, 4(3), 766–769 (2021). [Link]
B. Shen, O. Erol, L. Fang, S. H. Kang^*. “Programming time into 3D printing: current advances and future directions in 4D printing”. Multifunctional Materials, 3(1), 012001 (2020). [Link]
D. Zhao, T. Li, B. Shen, Y. Jiang, W. Guo^*, F. Gao. “A multi-DOF rotary 3D printer: machine design, performance analysis and process planning of curved layer fused deposition modeling”. Rapid Prototyping Journal, 26(6), 1079–1093 (2020). [Link]

Conference Presentations

“Designing fiber networks for energy storage and dissipation through multi-material 3D printing of viscoelastic polymers”, Society of Engineering Science (SES) Annual Technical Meeting, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, October 2026. (oral presentation, accepted)
“From Digital Multi-Materials to Bio-Inspired Gradients: Mechanics-Guided Design of Compositionally Mixed Soft Materials”, 20th U.S. National Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (USNCTAM 2026), Pasadena, CA, USA, June 2026. (oral presentation)
“Synergistic energy absorption mechanisms of a liquid crystal elastomers metamaterial”, Gordon Research Conference, Multifunctional Materials, Ventura, CA, USA, September 2022. (poster presentation)
“Lighter, Tougher, Safer: Foam-Like Materials to Revolutionize Shock Absorption”, Foam Expo North America, Novi, MI, USA, June 2022. (invited speech)
“Synergistic energy absorption mechanisms of a liquid crystal elastomer-based metamaterial”, Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Chicago, IL, USA, March 2022. (oral presentation)
“Designing multiscale energy absorption performance of a liquid crystal elastomers metamaterial”, Society of Engineering Science (Virtual), October 2021. (poster presentation)