Education

  • Ph.D., Brown University, 2008
  • M.S., Brown University, 2008
  • B.S., Peking University, 2003

Teaching Interests

Professor Xia’s teaching interests center on core mechanical engineering subjects at both undergraduate and graduate levels, including statics, mechanics of deformable bodies, and fracture mechanics. His instruction emphasizes integrating fundamental principles with practical applications to prepare students for advanced study and professional practice. Professor Xia actively involves students in research-related learning, fostering critical thinking and hands-on experience in mechanics of materials.

Research Interests

Professor Xia’s area of expertise is experimental solid mechanics, with a focus on fracture mechanics of complex material systems. His research has focused on developing innovative experimental approaches and applying them to investigate fracture mechanisms and fracture/microstructure relationships in heterogeneous media and active materials. The outcome of his research has contributed significantly to fundamental understanding within the field as well as technological applications of these material systems.

Recent Publications

  • M. Lu, N. Kanazi, E. Lin, S. M. Xia. “Size- and Temperature-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Metallic Lithium,” Extreme Mechanics Letters 61: 102022 (2023).
  • X. J. Wang, M. Lu, M. Zhou, S. M. Xia, “Fracture Resistance of Chemo-mechanically Coupled Solid Solutions,” Journal of Applied Mechanics, 90: 121001 (2023).
  • M. Lu, S. M. Xia. “Operando Characterizations of Lithium Penetration-Induced Fracture in Solid Electrolytes,” Experimental Mechanics 64: 1161-1174 (2024).
  • R. Danda, X. Wu, S. Mao, Y. Zhang, T. Zhu, S. M. Xia. “Phase-Augmented Digital Image Correlation for High-Accuracy Deformation Measurement: Theory, Validation, and Application to Constitutive Law Learning,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 198: 106051 (2025).
  • S. M. Xia, K.-S. Kim, “Mesoscale Characterizations of Micro‑Slip Friction between Rough Surfaces with ESPI”, Experimental Mechanics (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-025-01261-3