Dr. Balankin created a so-called fractal mechanics interdisciplinary research group that stands out for developing applied research in the area and in probabilistic fracture mechanics. Also outstanding are his contributions to understanding the fractal behavior of complex systems, especially the mechanical behavior of compound materials, multiphase flows through porous media, crack propagation in heterogeneous media, hydraulic fractures, fire propagation in heterogeneous systems, as well as the behavior of financial markets and social groups.

Noteworthy is Dr. Balankin’s contribution to the development of the nation’s oil industry through optimized drilling methods, and probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis of oil and gas pipelines integrity. He has also developed new methodologies for probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis for a risk based maintenance inspection program of the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant, as well as the methodology of probabilistic reliability and structural risk assignment of cable-stayed bridges, including the one over the Papaloapan River in Veracruz. 

Dr. Balankin has been a consultant of the Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardas [National Commission of Nuclear Safety and Safeguards]. He is an adviser of the Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo [Mexican Petroleum Institute] and the Instituto Mexicano del Transporte [Mexican Transport Institute]. He is evaluador de programas de posgrado y de proyectos de investigación [graduate programs and research projects evaluator] of the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Conacyt) [National Council of Science and Technology] and he also presides the Sección de Mecánica de la Fractura de la Academia Mexicana de Materiales [Fracture Mechanics Section of the Mexican Academy of Materials].

Following are some awards that stand out of the many that have been bestowed upon him. He received the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes [National Award for Science and Arts]; the Albert Einstein Medal and the Science Prize of the UNESCO; the Premio a la Investigación [Research Prize] of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) [National Polytechnic Institute], on two separate occasions; the Premio Rómulo Garza de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico [the Premio Rómulo Garza for Research and Technological Development]. Distinguished by Pleiades Publishing, Inc. and the Russian Academy of Sciences a Prize for the Best Research Paper published in 1995. The State Prize of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Professor Balankin was also honored with the Presea Lázaro Cárdenas [Lázaro Cárdenas Gold Medal] and the Presea Amalia Cárdenas Solórzano [Amalia Cárdenas Solórzano Silver Medal], of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) [National Polytechnic Institute]. 

Dr. Balankin has published over 110 articles in international refereed journals, with over 2,500 citations in the international literature. He is the author of 2 books and co-author of 4, in addition to having been awarded 5 patents. He has tutored over 21 doctoral dissertations.