Ricerc@Sapienza

Composite materials exhibit an internal structure ('microstructure') at the nano, micro or meso-levels, made of randomly or periodically distributed inclusions embedded into a generally continuous matrix and show complex non-linear behaviour, such as damage, plasticity, fracture, etc. This kind of complex materials, both innovative (fiber composites, nanostructured, bio-materials, porous or textured media) and traditional (concrete, masonry-like materials, etc.) have to meet the demand for high performance in different fields of engineering and technology. To this end, the investigation of the mechanical behaviour of composites, coupled with other concurrent physical phenomena, is mandatory, relying on effective constitutive and structural modelling and advanced numerical methods, especially in validation of real-life case studies.
It is widely recognized that important macroscopic material properties, such as stiffness and strength, are governed by processes occurring at one to several scales below the level of observation. A thorough understanding of how these processes influence the gross behaviour is key to the analysis and the design of existing and/or performance improved composite materials ('multiscale' analysis). A research team expert in the area of multiscale computational methods will drive the main Work Packages (WP) of the project, aiming at developing: (i) constitutive models suitable for taking account at the macroscopic level of the microscopic characteristics; (ii) computational tools as enhanced Finite Element formulations based on mixed-type variational functionals, interactive Multiphysics codes, Virtual Element Method; (iii) advanced tools for structural analysis and optimization of new buildings and for risk mitigation and reliability of Cultural Heritage; (iv) next-generation materials and devices for monitoring and control of vibration, dissipation and damage.