University of Texas at Austin

Cross-
Cutting
Research Area

Computational Engineering

Tackling grand challenge societal problems through modeling, simulation and engineering problem-solving

Computational engineers use computers and advanced computational methods to analyze and solve engineering problems.

Our research in computational engineering is advancing a broad range of fields including energy, environment, aerospace, biomedical and autonomous systems.

An Overview: Computational Engineering

What is Computational Engineering?

Credit: from the Cockrell School of Engineering

Examples of Oden Institute research in Computational Engineering

Research is multifaceted, ranging from foundational advances in theory, methods and algorithms, to real-world impact in societal grand challenge problems.

digital twin aircraft

Digital twins of engineering systems from aircraft to the near-earth orbital space environment

Spectral wave modeling

Spectral wave modeling: The interactions between winds, the sea floor, circulation, and waves transfer significant amounts of energy that impacts both magnitude and timing of storm surge. The modeling of these complex interactions and phenomena is challenging as the physics of waves in space and time are accompanied by spectral effects.

Compound Flooding Model Development

Compound Flooding Model Development

Working with partners

Oden Institute faculty members have been centrally involved in the design and offering of UT Austin’s Bachelor of Science in Computational Engineering degree, offered by the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics.

The ADvanced CIRculation modeling framework (ADCIRC) is a research partnership into coastal ocean storm surge modeling developed through collaboration between Dr. Clint Dawson at the Computational Hydraulics Group (CHG) and the University of Notre Dame, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Carolina State University, the University of Oklahoma, and UT’s Center for Space Research. Other ADCIRC partners include US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, The Water Institute and the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

AEOLUS: Advances in Experimental Design, Optimization and Learning for Uncertain Complex Systems is a U.S. Department of Energy Mathematical Multifaceted Integrated Capabilities Center (MMICC) led by the Oden Institute and also involving researchers from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Texas A&M University.

The Oden Institute Center for Predictive Engineering and Computational Science is leading the development of high-fidelity simulations of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torches as part of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program.

News in brief

New 5-year Integrated Computational Engineering Program Coming in Fall 2024

News

March 26, 2024

New 5-year Integrated Computational Engineering Program Coming in Fall 2024

The new 4+1 degree program provides new educational and potential expanded industry opportunities for students in the undergraduate computational engineering program. 

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UT Aerospace Engineer Joins AI Advisory Group

News

Jan. 19, 2024

UT Aerospace Engineer Joins AI Advisory Group

Oden Institute Affiliated Faculty Member John-Paul Clarke will serve on the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' newly formed Aerospace Artificial Intelligence advisory group.

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The Cancer Equation

Feature

Jan. 11, 2024

The Cancer Equation

Read about Tom Yankeelov's fruitful career at the Oden Institute and his mission to individualize cancer care through computational science. 

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New Report Urges Multiagency Action to Support Potentially Transformative Digital Twins Research

News

Dec. 15, 2023

New Report Urges Multiagency Action to Support Potentially Transformative Digital Twins Research

Across multiple domains of science, engineering, and medicine, excitement is growing about the potential of digital twins to transform scientific research, industrial practices, and many aspects of daily life.

This report identifies the foundational research and resources needed to support the development of digital twin technologies.

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Prostate, Mammography Analysis & Imaging Methods to be Tackled in Latest Texas Computational Oncology Collaboration

News

Dec. 5, 2023

Prostate, Mammography Analysis & Imaging Methods to be Tackled in Latest Texas Computational Oncology Collaboration

Announcing the 2023-2024 MD Anderson, Oden Institue, and TACC Collaboration Grant Recipients.

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Computational Sciences Visionary J. Tinsley Oden Celebrates 50 years at UT Austin

Feature

July 17, 2023

Computational Sciences Visionary J. Tinsley Oden Celebrates 50 years at UT Austin

J. Tinsley Oden reflects back on the history of the Oden Institute, and the evolution of computational engineering and sciences.

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Mary F. Wheeler Medal Established by U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics

News

June 28, 2023

Mary F. Wheeler Medal Established by U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics

The Mary F. Wheeler Medal has been established by USACM in 2023, in honor of Wheeler's sustained contributions to the science and engineering community.

This is the first new named medal by USACM in more than a quarter century and their first award named after a woman.

 

 

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UT SIAM Chapter Treasurer Awarded 2023 Student Certificate

News

May 19, 2023

UT SIAM Chapter Treasurer Awarded 2023 Student Certificate

Xin Tang, PhD student, recieved this year's SIAM Student Chapter Certificate for her work as treasurer with the UT Chapter. 

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CSEM Student Shane McQuarrie Wins BGCE Student Paper Prize

News

May 8, 2023

CSEM Student Shane McQuarrie Wins BGCE Student Paper Prize

CSEM Ph.D student Shane McQuarrie was awarded the ninth BGCE Student Paper Prize at the 2023 SIAM CSE Conference.

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Matteo Croci Awarded 2022 Marie Curie Fellowship

News

March 29, 2023

Matteo Croci Awarded 2022 Marie Curie Fellowship

As part of the fellowship, Matteo Croci, an Oden Institute research associate, will apply his expertise to support the European Union's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and climate neutrality by 2050.

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The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Postdoctoral Research Fellows 2022-2023

Feature

Sept. 12, 2022

The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Postdoctoral Research Fellows 2022-2023

  • O’Donnell Postdoctoral Fellowship provides funding for outstanding graduates to perform high-level, computational research with exceptional faculty in an interdisciplinary environment
  • Five new postdoctoral researchers join the Oden Institute community for the 2022-2023 academic year

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New Distinguished Chair Named After Pioneer of Computational Mechanics

News

Sept. 9, 2022

New Distinguished Chair Named After Pioneer of Computational Mechanics

  • New Chair named in honor of generous donor known for creating one of the most widely used commercial finite element codes for nonlinear applications of all time 
  • “John O. Hallquist's impact has been enormous as an engineer, entrepreneur and business leader"

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Eirik Valseth Awarded 2022 Marie Curie Fellowship

News

Aug. 30, 2022

Eirik Valseth Awarded 2022 Marie Curie Fellowship

  • Research associate working with Clint Dawson awarded one of Europe's most prestigious grants 
  • Valseth plans on splitting his time evenly between here at the Oden Institute and in his native home of Norway 

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Hughes Honored for Contributions to Teaching and Cross-Disciplinary Research

News

July 13, 2022

Hughes Honored for Contributions to Teaching and Cross-Disciplinary Research

  • Hughes recieves national and international recognition for his remarkable career
  • Awards from the City University of Hong Kong and Georgia Instiutute of Technology

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Oden Institute Recognizes 2021-2022 Graduates

News

June 16, 2022

Oden Institute Recognizes 2021-2022 Graduates

  • Event honored 16 students that graduated in May 2022, as well as eight other students who graduated throughout the 2021-2022 academic year
  • "Congratulations to all our PhD and Master's graduate students. Collectively, you represent an incredible set of accomplishments spanning computing, applied mathematics, statistics, machine learning, engineering, science, geoscience, and medicine."

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CBS Austin New Texas flood simulation system could save lives when natural disasters strike

Media Coverage

June 9, 2022

CBS Austin New Texas flood simulation system could save lives when natural disasters strike

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Oden Institute Awards Ceremony 2022

Feature

May 18, 2022

Oden Institute Awards Ceremony 2022

  • Awards Ceremony finally held in-person after two years of hiatus from COVID  
  • Staff, students and faculty celebrated and recognized for their significant contributions throughout the year

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Huston-Tillotson Students Reach Hypersonic Speeds in New Computational Engineering Course

Feature

March 1, 2022

Huston-Tillotson Students Reach Hypersonic Speeds in New Computational Engineering Course

  • New course in computational engineering now offered at Huston-Tillotson University
  • Computation for Aerospace Engineering was developed in collaboration with faculty from the Oden Institute and Cockrell School of Engineering at UT Austin

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Advancing Energy Production

Feature

Feb. 2, 2022

Advancing Energy Production

  • PhD graduate's research featured by Siam News 
  • Study helps advance methods for oil production  

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Space Junk Revealed by University of Texas Graph Database

Media Coverage

Jan. 26, 2022

Space Junk Revealed by University of Texas Graph Database

Read more at computerweekly

Native Fish Population Predicted to Rise After Major Expansion of Texas Port

News

Jan. 19, 2022

Native Fish Population Predicted to Rise After Major Expansion of Texas Port

  • New research collaboration between Computational Hydraulics Group and Marine Science Institute 
  • Expanding Aransas Pass could increase the native red drum fish population, according to model  

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Oden Institute Joins the Forty for 40 Party

News

Sept. 22, 2021

Oden Institute Joins the Forty for 40 Party

  • First time Oden Institute participates in 40 hours for the Forty Acres  
  • Annual UT Austin fundraising event now in its ninth year

Read more at utexas

Junking orbital junk? The mind behind ASTRIAGraph Moriba Jah

Media Coverage

Sept. 20, 2021

Junking orbital junk? The mind behind ASTRIAGraph Moriba Jah

Read more at theregister

Researchers to Develop Digital Twin Platform for Enhanced Storm Mitigation

News

Sept. 8, 2021

Researchers to Develop Digital Twin Platform for Enhanced Storm Mitigation

  • Department of Energy funds development of computational “digital twin” framework for storm surge prediction 
  • Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve accuracy 

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Introducing The 2021 Fellowship…

Feature

Aug. 31, 2021

Introducing The 2021 Fellowship…

  • 2021 Peter O'Donnell, Jr. Postdoctoral Fellows bring variety of new skillsets and diverse research interests
  • Scope of projects range from computational modeling at atomic scale to development of tsunami simulation techniques

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Thomas Hughes Honored by Japan Association for Computational Mechanics

News

Aug. 30, 2021

Thomas Hughes Honored by Japan Association for Computational Mechanics

  • Peter O'Donnell, Jr. Chair in Computational and Applied Mathematics inducted with Tayfun Tezduyar from Rice University
  • Tezduyar and Hughes first non-Japanese so honored by JACM

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Carey Scholarship 2021 Marcos Botto Tornielli

News

July 21, 2021

Carey Scholarship 2021 Marcos Botto Tornielli

  • Carey Scholarship goes to 22-year-old Computational Engineering student at UT’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
  • Future plans to pursue PhD focused on modeling environmental fluid flows

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Living Near A Superfund Site Could Cut Life Short

Media Coverage

April 20, 2021

Living Near A Superfund Site Could Cut Life Short

https://www.futurity.org/superfund-sites-life-expectancy-2551662/

Read more at futurity

Communities Living Near Polluted Superfund Sites Have Lower Life Expectancy

News

April 16, 2021

Communities Living Near Polluted Superfund Sites Have Lower Life Expectancy

  • Superfund sites could reduce the life expectancy for people living nearby by as much as 1.2 years
  • Fiirst nationwide study of its kind, researchers used advanced statistical modeling techniques to examine the impact of contaminated areas in unprecedented detail.

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When Two Parallel Lines Intersect - Profile Georgia Stuart

Profile

Feb. 24, 2021

When Two Parallel Lines Intersect - Profile Georgia Stuart

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Computational Engineering Alumnus Pursues Graduate Studies in Oncology

News

Aug. 4, 2020

Computational Engineering Alumnus Pursues Graduate Studies in Oncology

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