John Dolbow, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Modeling quasi-static and dynamic fracture of structural components, the evolution of interfaces with nonlinear constitutive laws, and developing models for stimulus-responsive hydrogels

Bio

Professor John E. Dolbow came to Duke University from Northwestern University, where he received an MS and PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. During the course of his graduate study, John was a Computational Science Graduate Fellow for the Department of Energy, and he spent a summer working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr. Dolbow's research concerns the development of computational methods for nonlinear problems in solid mechanics. In particular, he is interested in the use of modern computational methods to model quasi-static and dynamic fracture of structural components and the evolution of interfaces. A native of New Hampshire, Dr. Dolbow received his Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Hampshire.  In 2020, he became an Assistant Vice President for Research for Duke University.  

Education

• B.S.M.E. University of New Hampshire, 1995
• M.S. Northwestern University, 1998
• Ph.D. Northwestern University, 1999

Positions

• Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
• Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Professor of Mathematics
• Bass Fellow

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• R. H. Gallagher Young Investigator Award. U.S. Association for Computational Mechanics. 2005
• Robert J. Melosh Medal, Best Student Paper in Finite Element Analysis. Duke University. 1999
• Computational Science Graduate Fellow. U.S. Department of Energy. 1997
• Walter P. Murphy Graduate Fellowship. Northwestern University. 1995
• Presidential Scholar. University of New Hampshire. 1991

Courses Taught

• MENG 552: Master of Engineering Supplemental Internship
• MENG 551: Master of Engineering Internship/Project Assessment
• MENG 550: Master of Engineering Internship/Project
• ME 758S: Curricular Practical Training
• ME 592: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science
• CEE 622: Fracture Mechanics
• CEE 520: Continuum Mechanics

Publications

• Kamarei F, Dolbow JE, Lopez-Pamies O. Nucleation of Fracture: The First-Octant Evidence Against Classical Variational Phase-Field Models. Journal of Applied Mechanics. 2025 Jan 1;92(1).
• Torres DE, Hu T, Stershic AJ, Shelton TR, Dolbow JE. A variational phase-field framework for thermal softening and dynamic ductile fracture. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2025 Jan 1;433.
• Lopez-Pamies O, Dolbow JE, Francfort GA, Larsen CJ. Classical variational phase-field models cannot predict fracture nucleation. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2025 Jan 1;433.
• Saha S, Dolbow JE, Lopez-Pamies O. A Griffith description of fracture for non-monotonic loading with application to fatigue. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2024 Oct 1;191.
• Larsen CJ, Dolbow JE, Lopez-Pamies O. A variational formulation of Griffith phase-field fracture with material strength. International Journal of Fracture. 2024 Sep 1;247(3):319u201327.
• Dolbow J, Lopez-Pamies O. Data from: A Griffith description of fracture for non-monotonic loading with application to fatigue. 2024.
• Liu Y, Zhong P, Lopez-Pamies O, Dolbow JE. A model-based simulation framework for coupled acoustics, elastodynamics, and damage with application to nano-pulse lithotripsy. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2024 Mar 1;289.
• Zhang H, Dolbow JE, Guilleminot J. Representing model uncertainties in brittle fracture simulations. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2024 Jan 5;418.
• Kumar A, Liu Y, Dolbow JE, Lopez-Pamies O. The strength of the Brazilian fracture test. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2024 Jan 1;182.
• Guu00e9vel A, Meng Y, Peco C, Juanes R, Dolbow JE. A Darcyu2013Cahnu2013Hilliard model of multiphase fluid-driven fracture. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2023 Dec 1;181.
• Xiang G, Chen J, Ho D, Sankin G, Zhao X, Liu Y, et al. Shock waves generated by toroidal bubble collapse are imperative for kidney stone dusting during Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy. Ultrasonics sonochemistry. 2023 Dec;101:106649.
• Fei F, Costa A, Dolbow JE, Settgast RR, Cusini M. A phase-field model for hydraulic fracture nucleation and propagation in porous media. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. 2023 Nov 1;47(16):3065u201389.
• Costa A, Hu T, Dolbow JE. On formulations for modeling pressurized cracks within phase-field methods for fracture. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics. 2023 Oct 1;127.
• Liu Y, Claus S, Kerfriden P, Chen J, Zhong P, Dolbow JE. Model-based simulations of pulsed laser ablation using an embedded finite element method. International journal of heat and mass transfer. 2023 May;204:123843.
• Fei F, Costa A, Dolbow JE, Settgast RR, Cusini M. Phase-Field Simulation of Near-Wellbore Nucleation and Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). In: Society of Petroleum Engineers - SPE Reservoir Simulation Conference, RSC 2023. 2023.
• Fei F, Costa A, Dolbow JE, Settgast RR, Cusini M. Phase-field modeling of hydraulic fracturing under heterogeneities and/or layering of rock properties and in-situ stress. In: 57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. 2023.
• Hu T, Dolbow JE, Yosibash Z. Towards validation of crack nucleation criteria from V-notches in quasi-brittle metallic alloys: Energetics or strength? Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2022 Dec 1;402.
• Costa A, Cusini M, Jin T, Settgast R, Dolbow JE. A multi-resolution approach to hydraulic fracture simulation. International Journal of Fracture. 2022 Sep 1;237(1u20132):165u201388.
• Talamini B, Tupek MR, Stershic AJ, Hu T, Foulk JW, Ostien JT, et al. Attaining regularization length insensitivity in phase-field models of ductile failure. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2021 Oct 1;384.
• Geelen R, Plews J, Dolbow J. Scale-bridging with the extended/generalized finite element method for linear elastodynamics. Computational Mechanics. 2021 Aug 1;68(2):295u2013310.
• Hu T, Guilleminot J, Dolbow JE. A phase-field model of fracture with frictionless contact and random fracture properties: Application to thin-film fracture and soil desiccation. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2020 Aug 15;368.
• Geelen R, Plews J, Tupek M, Dolbow J. An extended/generalized phase-field finite element method for crack growth with global-local enrichment. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2020 Jun 15;121(11):2534u201357.
• Jiang W, Spencer BW, Dolbow JE. Ceramic nuclear fuel fracture modeling with the extended finite element method. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2020 Jan 1;223.
• Guilleminot J, Dolbow JE. Data-driven enhancement of fracture paths in random composites. Mechanics Research Communications. 2020 Jan 1;103.
• Geelen RJM, Liu Y, Hu T, Tupek MR, Dolbow JE. A phase-field formulation for dynamic cohesive fracture. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2019 May 1;348:680u2013711.
• Asareh I, Kim TY, Song JH, Dolbow JE. Corrigendum to u201cA linear complete extended finite element method for dynamic fracture simulation with non-nodal enrichmentsu201d [Finite Elem. Anal. Des. 152, 2018](S0168874X18305080)(10.1016/j.finel.2018.09.002). Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2019 May 1;157:50.
• Liu Y, Peco C, Dolbow J. A fully coupled mixed finite element method for surfactants spreading on thin liquid films. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2019 Mar 1;345:429u201353.
• Peco C, Liu Y, Rhea C, Dolbow JE. Models and simulations of surfactant-driven fracture in particle rafts. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2019 Jan 1;156u2013157:194u2013209.
• Geelen RJM, Liu Y, Dolbow JE, Rodru00edguez-Ferran A. An optimization-based phase-field method for continuous-discontinuous crack propagation. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2018 Oct 5;116(1):1u201320.
• Zhang Z, Jiang W, Dolbow JE, Spencer BW. A modified moment-fitted integration scheme for X-FEM applications with history-dependent material data. Computational Mechanics. 2018 Aug 1;62(2):233u201352.
• Peco C, Chen W, Liu Y, Bandi MM, Dolbow JE, Fried E. Influence of surface tension in the surfactant-driven fracture of closely-packed particulate monolayers. Soft matter. 2017 Sep;13(35):5832u201341.
• Zhang Z, Dolbow JE. Remeshing strategies for large deformation problems with frictional contact and nearly incompressible materials. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2017 Mar 2;109(9):1289u2013314.
• Stershic AJ, Dolbow JE, Mou00ebs N. The Thick Level-Set model for dynamic fragmentation. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2017 Mar 1;172:39u201360.
• Spencer BW, Jiang W, Dolbow JE, Peco C. Pellet cladding mechanical interaction modeling using the extended finite element method. In: Top Fuel 2016: LWR Fuels with Enhanced Safety and Performance. 2016. p. 929u201338.
• Dolbow J, Farhat C, Harari I, Lew A. Special Issue: Advances in Embedded Interface Methods. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2015 Nov 16;104(7):469u201371.
• Jiang W, Annavarapu C, Dolbow JE, Harari I. A robust Nitsche's formulation for interface problems with spline-based finite elements. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2015 Nov 16;104(7):676u201396.
• Sukumar N, Dolbow JE, Mou00ebs N. Extended finite element method in computational fracture mechanics: a retrospective examination. International Journal of Fracture. 2015 Nov 1;196(1u20132):189u2013206.
• Lin S, Cao C, Wang Q, Gonzalez M, Dolbow JE, Zhao X. Design of stiff, tough and stretchy hydrogel composites via nanoscale hybrid crosslinking and macroscale fiber reinforcement. Soft matter. 2014 Oct;10(38):7519u201327.
• Lee C, Dolbow J, Mucha PJ. A narrow-band gradient-augmented level set method for multiphase incompressible flow. Journal of Computational Physics. 2014 Sep 15;273:12u201337.
• Kindo TM, Laursen TA, Dolbow JE. Toward robust and accurate contact solvers for large deformation applications: A remapping/adaptivity framework for mortar-based methods. Computational Mechanics. 2014 Jul 1;54(1):53u201370.
• Annavarapu C, Hautefeuille M, Dolbow JE. A Nitsche stabilized finite element method for frictional sliding on embedded interfaces. Part I: Single interface. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2014 Jan 1;268:417u201336.
• Jiang W, Dolbow JE. Adaptive refinement of hierarchical B-spline finite elements with an efficient data transfer algorithm (Accepted). International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2014 Jan 1;
• Kindo TM, Laursen TA, Dolbow JE. Toward robust and accurate contact solvers for large deformation applications: a remapping/adaptivity framework for mortar-based methods. Computational Mechanics. 2014;
• Kim TY, Chen X, Dolbow JE, Fried E. Going to new lengths: Studying the Navier-Stokes-u03b1u03b2 equations using the strained spiral vortex model. Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems - Series B. 2014 Jan 1;19(7):2207u201325.
• Annavarapu C, Hautefeuille M, Dolbow JE. A Nitsche stabilized finite element method for frictional sliding on embedded interfaces. Part II: Intersecting interfaces. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2013 Dec 1;267:318u201341.
• Embar A, Dolbow J, Fried E. Microdomain evolution on giant unilamellar vesicles. Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology. 2013 Jun;12(3):597u2013615.
• Kim TY, Dolbow JE, Fried E. Numerical study of the grain-size dependent Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of bulk nanocrystalline materials. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2012 Dec 15;49(26):3942u201352.
• Annavarapu C, Hautefeuille M, Dolbow JE. Stable imposition of stiff constraints in explicit dynamics for embedded finite element methods. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2012 Oct 12;92(2):206u201328.
• Annavarapu C, Hautefeuille M, Dolbow JE. A robust Nitsche's formulation for interface problems. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2012 Jun 15;225u2013228:44u201354.
• Hautefeuille M, Annavarapu C, Dolbow JE. Robust imposition of Dirichlet boundary conditions on embedded surfaces. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2012 Apr 6;90(1):40u201364.
• Dolbow J, Harari I. Erratum: An efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2011 Dec 23;88(12):1344.
• Sanders J, Dolbow JE, Mucha PJ, Laursen TA. A new method for simulating rigid body motion in incompressible two-phase flow. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids. 2011 Oct 30;67(6):713u201332.
• Kim TY, Dolbow JE, Fried E. The Navier-Stokes-u03b1u03b2 equations as a platform for a spectral multigrid method to solve the Navier-Stokes equations. Computers and Fluids. 2011 May 1;44(1):102u201310.
• Embar A, Dolbow J, Harari I. Imposing dirichlet boundary conditions with Nitsche's method and spline-based finite elements. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2010 Aug 13;83(7):877u201398.
• Elson EL, Fried E, Dolbow JE, Genin GM. Phase separation in biological membranes: integration of theory and experiment. Annual review of biophysics. 2010 Jan;39:207u201326.
• Harari I, Dolbow J. Analysis of an efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems. Computational Mechanics. 2010 Jan 1;46(1):205u201311.
• Laursen TA, Dolbow JE, Jung Y, Sanders J. From contact mechanics to fluid/structure interaction: Recent developments in interface discretization and stabilization. Computational Plasticity X - Fundamentals and Applications. 2009 Dec 1;
• Kim TY, Dolbow JE. An edge-bubble stabilized finite element method for fourth-order parabolic problems. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2009 Jun 1;45(8u20139):485u201394.
• Sanders JD, Dolbow JE, Laursen TA. On methods for stabilizing constraints over enriched interfaces in elasticity. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2009 May 28;78(9):1009u201336.
• Dolbow J, Harari I. An efficient finite element method for embedded interface problems. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2009 Apr 9;78(2):229u201352.
• Stanciulescu I, Dolbow JE, Zauscher S. Computational modeling of surface phenomena in soft-wet materials. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2009 Mar 15;46(6):1334u201344.
• Dolbow J. The Melosh competition. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2009 Mar 1;45(4):237.
• Kim TY, Cassiani M, Albertson JD, Dolbow JE, Fried E, Gurtin ME. Impact of the inherent separation of scales in the Navier-Stokes-u03b1u03b2 equations. Physical Review E. 2009;79(4).
• Dolbow JE, Franca LP. Residual-free bubbles for embedded Dirichlet problems. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2008 Aug 15;197(45u201348):3751u20139.
• Dolbow JE, Laursen TA. The Melosh Competition. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2008 Mar 1;44(5):227.
• Dolbow J, Mosso S, Robbins J, Voth T. Coupling volume-of-fluid based interface reconstructions with the extended finite element method. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2008 Jan 1;197(5):439u201347.
• Sanders J, Dolbow J, Laursen T. A stabilized treatment of arbitrarily oriented interfaces. Computational Plasticity - Fundamentals and Applications, COMPLAS IX. 2007 Dec 1;(PART 1):145u20138.
• Korchagin V, Dolbow J, Stepp D. A theory of amorphous viscoelastic solids undergoing finite deformations with application to hydrogels. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2007 Jun 1;44(11u201312):3973u201397.
• Kim TY, Dolbow J, Fried E. A numerical method for a second-gradient theory of incompressible fluid flow. Journal of Computational Physics. 2007 May 1;223(2):551u201370.
• Dolbow JE. The Melosh Competition. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2007 Mar 1;43(5):345.
• Kim TY, Dolbow J, Laursen T. A mortared finite element method for frictional contact on arbitrary interfaces. Computational Mechanics. 2007 Feb;39(3):223u201335.
• Mourad HM, Dolbow J, Harari I. A bubble-stabilized finite element method for Dirichlet constraints on embedded interfaces. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2007 Jan 22;69(4):772u201393.
• Chang DP, Dolbow JE, Zauscher S. Switchable friction of stimulus-responsive hydrogels. Langmuiru202f: the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids. 2007 Jan;23(1):250u20137.
• Dolbow J. The Melosh Competition. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2006 Apr 1;42(7 SPEC. ISS.):569.
• Ji H, Mourad H, Fried E, Dolbow J. Kinetics of thermally induced swelling of hydrogels. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2006 Apr 1;43(7u20138):1878u2013907.
• Mourad HM, Dolbow J, Garikipati K. An assumed-gradient finite element method for the level set equation. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2005 Oct 28;64(8):1009u201332.
• Dolbow J, Fried E, Ji H. A numerical strategy for investigating the kinetic response of stimulus-responsive hydrogels. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2005 Oct 15;194(42u201344):4447u201380.
• Dolbow J, Fried E, Shen AQ. Point defects in nematic gels: The case for hedgehogs. Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis. 2005 Jul 1;177(1):21u201351.
• Dolbow JE. The Melosh competition. Finite Elements in Analysis and Design. 2005 Apr 1;41(7u20138):685.
• Ji H, Dolbow JE. On strategies for enforcing interfacial constraints and evaluating jump conditions with the extended finite element method. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2004 Dec 14;61(14):2508u201335.
• Dolbow JE, Devan A. Enrichment of enhanced assumed strain approximations for representing strong discontinuities: Addressing volumetric incompressibility and the discontinuous patch test. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2004 Jan 7;59(1):47u201367.
• Dolbow J, Fried E, Ji H. Chemically induced swelling of hydrogels. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 2004 Jan 1;52(1):51u201384.
• Bellec J, Dolbow JE. A note on enrichment functions for modelling crack nucleation. Communications in Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2003 Dec 1;19(12):921u201332.
• Dolbow JE, Nadeau JC. On the use of effective properties for the fracture analysis of microstructured materials. Engineering Fracture Mechanics. 2002 Sep 1;69(14u201316):1607u201334.
• Ji H, Chopp D, Dolbow JE. A hybrid extended finite element/level set method for modeling phase transformations. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2002 Jul 20;54(8):1209u201333.
• Dolbow JE, Gosz M. On the computation of mixed mode stress intensity factors in functionally graded materials. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2002 Apr 30;39(9):2557u201374.
• Merle R, Dolbow J. Solving thermal and phase change problems with the eXtended finite element method. Computational Mechanics. 2002 Jan 1;28(5):339u201350.
• Dolbow J, Mou00ebs N, Belytschko T. An extended finite element method for modeling crack growth with frictional contact. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. 2001 Oct 26;190(51u201352):6825u201346.
• Daux C, Mou00ebs N, Dolbow J, Sukumar N, Belytschko T. Arbitrary branched and intersecting cracks with the extended finite element method. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 2000 Aug 30;48(12):1741u201360.
• Dolbow J, Mou00ebs N, Belytschko T. Discontinuous enrichment in finite elements with a partition of unity method. Finite elements in analysis and design. 2000 Jan 1;36(3):235u201360.
• Dolbow J, Mou00ebs N, Belytschko T. Modeling fracture in Mindlin-Reissner plates with the extended finite element method. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 2000 Jan 1;37(48):7161u201383.
• Dolbow J, Belytschko T. Volumetric locking in the element free Galerkin method. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 1999 Oct 30;46(6):925u201342.
• Mou00ebs N, Dolbow J, Belytschko T. A finite element method for crack growth without remeshing. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 1999 Sep 10;46(1):131u201350.
• Mou00ebs N, Dolbow J, Belytschko T. A finite element method for crack growth without remeshing. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 1999 Sep 10;46(1):131u201350.
• Dolbow J, Belytschko T. Numerical integration of the Galerkin weak form in meshfree methods. Computational Mechanics. 1999 Jan 1;23(3):219u201330.
• Belytschko T, Krongauz Y, Dolbow J, Gerlach C. On the completeness of meshfree particle methods. Int J Numer Methods Eng (UK). 1998;43(5):785u2013819.
• Belytschko T, Krongauz Y, Dolbow J, Gerlach C. On the completeness of meshfree particle methods. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering. 1998;43(5):785u2013819.
• Gosz M, Dolbow J, Moran B. Domain integral formulation for stress intensity factor computation along curved three-dimensional interface cracks. International Journal of Solids and Structures. 1998 Jan 1;35(15):1763u201383.
• Gosz MR, Moran B, Dolbow JE. AN INTERACTION INTEGRAL FORMULATION FOR COMPUTING STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS ALONG CURVED BIMATERIAL INTERFACE CRACKS. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings (IMECE). 1996 Jan 1;1996-H:107u201321.
• Dolbow J, Gosz M. Effect of out-of-plane properties of a polyimide film on the stress fields in microelectronic structures. Mechanics of Materials. 1996 Jan 1;23(4):311u201321.
• Gosz MR, Moran B, Dolbow JE. Interaction integral formulation for computing stress intensity factors along curved bimaterial interface cracks. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Aerospace Division (Publication) AD. 1996;52:107u201321.
• Gosz MR, Dolbow JE. Influence of out-of-plane insulator properties on the interfacial stresses in periodic electronic structures. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Paper). 1995 Dec 1;
• Hu G, Talamini B, Stershic AJ, Tupek MR, Dolbow JE. A Variational Phase-Field Model For Ductile Fracture with Coalescence Dissipation (In preparation).

In The News

• Dolbow Named Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation (Nov 19, 2024 | Duke Today)
• Dolbow Named Assistant VP for Research (Apr 17, 2020 | )