Cooper’s research group studies the complex behaviors of heterogeneous materials in severe environments. Of particular interest are heterogeneous materials formed from densely packed granular media which are found in a diverse range of applications including structural materials, energy storage, pharmaceuticals, and energetic materials including pyrotechnics, propellants, and explosives. Our experiments and analysis combine aspects of particulate science, mechanics of materials, and thermal science to uncover the effect of thermal and mechanical damage mechanisms on bulk material performance.