Collaborative Research: Geometric Scientific Machine Learning for PDEs with Tensorial Constraints

NSF Award Search · 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $349,985 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly accelerates scientific discovery and engineering design, there is a growing need for models that are not only computationally fast but physically reliable. Many current AI approaches rely purely on massive datasets, predicting physical phenomena without incorporating the underlying laws of nature. This purely data-driven approach can lead to predictions that are unstable or physically impossible. This project develops 'physics-preserving' machine learning models that embed geometric and physical constraints directly into the AI's architecture. By ensuring these models obey fundamental physical laws by design, the research yields simulators that operate thousands of times faster than traditional computational methods without sacrificing accuracy. These advancements directly support Federal strategic interests in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing by enabling the creation of real-time, highly accurate digital twins for complex systems in aerospace, materials science, and energy. Additionally, the project supports workforce development by training a new generation of scientists, spanning high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels at the critical intersection of computational mathematics and machine learning.
 This project will create structure-preserving scientific machine learning (SciML) architectures to learn reduced partial differential equation (PDE) models incorporating constrained tensors. Examples in

Key facts

NSF award ID
2608775
Awardee
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (IL)
SAM.gov UEI
Y8CWNJRCNN91
PI
Anil N Hirani
Primary program
01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning Theory, COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE & ENGING
Estimated total
$349,985
Funds obligated
$349,985
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
06/15/2026 → 05/31/2029