Predicting the structural integrity of metallic components by coupling experimental and computational mechanics to develop physics-informed digital twins and material passports for manufacturing and extreme in-service environments.
Multi-scale constitutive modelling and digital thread linking raw material micro-physics to macroscopic thermo-mechanical finished components.
Synergizing continuum thermo-mechanics, high-strain-rate experiments, and high-fidelity microstructural crystal plasticity models.
Development of high-fidelity numerical representations for extreme hot-deformation processes including hammer forging and multi-pass ring rolling. Captures dynamic recrystallization kinetics, localized friction heating, and real-time thermo-mechanical load response.
Serial sectioning, 3D grain reconstruction, and non-local crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) frameworks. Investigating twin nucleation criteria, stored energy density gradients, and crystallographic misorientation thresholds in hexagonal close-packed (HCP) alloys.
Resolving dislocation density evolution at microstructural discontinuities. Using high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD) coupled with digital image correlation (DIC) to evaluate Nye dislocation tensor tensors and formulate slip-system-specific damage indicators.
Formulation of internal state variable models for hot deformation, dynamic recovery, and static/meta-dynamic recrystallization. Experimental heat-treatment protocols resolving prior austenite grain boundaries, texture evolution, and crystallographic pole figures.
Editorial archive of computational models, grain-scale EBSD maps, and digital twin representations developed by group members and collaborators.
Finite element prediction of transient thermal gradients and accumulated effective strain profiles during heavy hammer forging operations.
Experimental flow-line analysis and macro-etched cross-sections mapping grain flow lines against continuum shear strain distribution.
FIB-SEM serial sectioning and full 3D polycrystal reconstruction investigating the stress state at grain boundaries triggering extension twin variants.
Internal state variable formulations capturing work hardening and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) softens across temperature and strain-rate domains.
Reconstruction of parent austenite grains from room-temperature martensite/bainite crystallographic orientations and inverse pole figure maps.
Resolving dislocation-dense boundary interfaces and crystallographic shear localization predicting microcrack onset before macroscopic fracture.
Dr. Chaitanya Paramatmuni, a mechanical engineer trained in mechanics of materials and digital twins for manufacturing, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Before moving to this academic role, he was a postdoctoral research associate within the SAFER program at The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. He pursued doctoral studies on 'Micromechanics of twin nucleation and growth in magnesium alloys' at Imperial College London, UK and M.S. (by research) at IIT Madras, India. His doctoral studies were supported by the President's PhD Scholarship, which is the most prestigious and generous scholarship awarded to exceptional talent at Imperial College London.
Under the umbrella of the mechanics of materials, his research interest broadly has been a synergistic experimental-numerical approach to understand mechanical behaviour and structural integrity of materials during manufacturing and in-service. He is recognized as an Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) for his teaching skills that comply with UK professional framework standards. He enjoys trekking, food and music.
Research Scholar
Joined: August 2025
Mr. S. Krishna Narayan is a research scholar specializing in metallurgy and materials science. His interests span material processing, characterization, and experimental investigations of engineering materials, with a growing interest in computational methods for materials research. He is passionate about lifelong learning and finds great satisfaction in teaching and mentoring others.
MS Research Scholar
Joined: August 2025
Sreekesari Vangeepuram is a problem solver at heart, drawn since childhood to scientific and technopreneurial challenges. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering, where he studied the design, integration, and optimization of complex engineering systems. That foundation led him naturally into research and development of technologies that address difficult problems.
He is currently pursuing his Master's thesis under the supervision of Dr. Chaitanya Paramatmuni, developing a novel instrumentation technique for the microstructural characterization of metals. The work aims to strengthen quality management in the upstream processing of safety-critical components for aerospace and other demanding industries. It spans metallography, instrumentation, micro- and nanoscale systems, machining mechanics, and digital twins and threads.
Beyond the lab, Sreekesari is a polyglot programmer, sportsperson, and avid reader, with a deep admiration for both the arts and the sciences.
Research Scholar
Joined: April 2026
Mr. Arman Shekhar is a Research Scholar specializing in metallurgy and materials science. His research looks at how specimen dimensions affect grain growth in 316L stainless steel, using a combination of heat treatment experiments, microstructural characterisation and computational modelling. His work is a combination of experimental studies with finite element simulations and Arrhenius-based grain growth modelling to predict microstructural evolution. He is committed to continuous learning and research excellence.
Master of Technology student (M.Tech, Manufacturing & Materials Engineering)
Joined: June 2026
Ebin Shibu James part of manufacturing and materials engineering postgraduate program is currently exploring mechanical response of metallurgical materials using insitu methods. For his master's thesis, he leverages Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to investigate the complexities of metal plasticity.
Ph.D research scholar
Joined: October 2026
Achal is passionate about research. He holds B.E from NIE Mysore and MTech from IIT Dharwad. His master's thesis was about modelling plasticity due to deformation twins in HCP metals. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D thesis under the supervision of Dr. Chaitanya Paramatmuni.
| Course Code | Course Title | Target Cohort | Type / Role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ME5007 | Advanced Engineering Materials | Postgraduate (M.Tech / PhD) | Core Theory / Primary Instructor | Active Semester |
| ME1150 | Mechanical Workshop | Undergraduate (B.Tech 1st Year) | Practical Hands-on Lab | Regular |
| ME5110 | M.Tech Project (Continuous Evaluation) | M.Tech Manufacturing / Design | Thesis Research Supervision | Ongoing |
| ME5004 | Mechanical Behaviour of Materials | Postgraduate / Final Year B.Tech | Advanced Mechanics Elective | Curriculum |
| ME3112 | Manufacturing and Materials Engineering Lab | Undergraduate (B.Tech 3rd Year) | Experimental Mechanics & Testing | Curriculum |
O. Koval, A. Das, C. Paramatmuni, E. Pickering, D. Cogswell
Z. Guo, X. Lu, C. Paramatmuni, H. Gao, F. Dunne, W. Yan, Y. Zhang, Y. Xu
C. Paramatmuni, D. Cogswell
C. Paramatmuni, F.P.E. Dunne
C. Paramatmuni, A.K. Kanjarla, X. Zeng, D. Guan
C. Paramatmuni, A. Bandi, A.K. Kanjarla
Y. Guo, C. Paramatmuni, E. Avcu
D. Cogswell, C. Paramatmuni, L. Scotti, J. Moffat
C. Paramatmuni, Y. Guo, P.J. Withers, F.P.E. Dunne
C. Paramatmuni, Z. Zheng, W.M. Rainforth, F.P.E. Dunne
C. Paramatmuni, F.P.E. Dunne
C. Paramatmuni, A.K. Kanjarla
Prospective researchers interested in PhD, MS (Research), and Postdoctoral fellowships in Mechanics of Materials & Digital Twins are encouraged to review our active research themes and contact the PI directly with an academic CV, statement of purpose, and sample publications.
Formal institute admission rounds occur in Autumn (July) and Spring (December). Candidates eligible for external funding may apply year-round.
The Digital Materials & Manufacturing (DMM) Group is based at the Sahyadri Campus of IIT Palakkad, situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats along the Palakkad Gap corridor.