Alejandro Mota

Welcome to my home page. I am a Associate Scientist at Caltech, working with Professor Michael Ortiz. The main thrusts of my studies are computational solid mechanics, finite element analysis and computer simulation. I obtained a B. S. (Civil Engineering, 1990) from the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes in Mexico, an M. S. (Structural Engineering, 1993) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and a Ph. D. in Structural Engineering (1999) from Cornell University.

Research at Caltech: ballistic penetration of the human skull, which was featured in an article in the Pasadena Star-News.


Impact of steel sample by projectile and formation of shear band.


Fracture and fragmentation of U-6%Nb rings.


Research at Cornell: improved stress recovery for cables and membranes.

My curriculum vitae.

Alejandro Mota
318B Guggenheim
Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories
California Institute of Technology
1200 E California Blvd MS/205-45
Pasadena CA 91125
mota@caltech.edu