His research activities have been focused in one of the main areas of Materials Science and Engineering: the analysis of the relationship between the microstructure of the materials and their physical properties, particularly of the mechanical properties of advanced structural materials, mainly composites. The development of models for the behaviour of composites based on their physical deformation and fracture mechanisms is a common point in all his research work. These technologies allow the developing of virtual testing with a high level of reliability, which are starting to be used to reduce the number of mechanical tests necessaries to certify a structural composite material. During the last years, his research was also focused on advanced manufacturing techniques for composite materials, with special emphasis on out-of-autoclave techniques such as resin transfer moulding, vacuum infusion, pultrusion and hot pressing, and including the development in parallel of the virtual processing technology for the manufacturing optimization.  

These research activities have been carried out within the framework of more than 45 research projects funded by regional, national and international R&D programs and through contracts with companies (Airbus, EADS-CASA Espacio, Acciona, Gamesa, Anci, Future Fibers, etc). Prof. Gonzalez is author of more than 90 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals, which have received over 3000 cites (h index of 24). Some of those papers are considered as highly cited papers according to the thematic net ISI Web of Knowledge in the field of solid mechanics and even appear referenced in prestigious journals such as Science on the future prospects of the virtual simulation techniques.