«Structural engineering is the art and science of molding materials we do not fully understand;
into shapes we cannot precisely analyze; to resist forces we cannot accurately predict;
all in such a way that the society at large is given no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.»

James ARNHEIM
(in Kenneth L. CARPER: Forensic Engineering, CRC Press, Boca Raton 1989, p. 16)

Main research interests

• Mechanics of Materials, Solids, and Structures
• Fracture Mechanics
• Composite and Advanced Materials
• Stability and Dynamics of Structures
• Computational Mechanics
• Structural Strengthening

Participations in funded research programmes

• 2018-2020: Member of the Research Group of the PRA 2018-2019 project "Multi-scale Modelling in Structural Engineering", financed by the University of Pisa (Coordinator: Prof. R. PARONI, University of Pisa, Italy).
• 2015-2018: Scientific Responsible of the University of Pisa Research Group of the project "SUREBridge - Sustainable refurbishment of existing bridges", co-financed by the European Commission under FP7 through the ERA-NET Plus Infravation 2014 Call (Coordinator: Prof. Reza HAGHANI, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden)
• 2011-2013: Member of the Stakeholders Panel of the project "PANTURA - Flexible processes and improved technologies for urban infrastructure construction sites", co-financed by the European Commission under FP7 (Coordinator: Prof. Robert KLIGER, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden)
• 2010-2012: Member of the University of Pisa Research Group of the project "A multiscale approach for modelling damage and degradation phenomena in light-weight civil constructions made of advanced composite materials", co-financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under PRIN 2008 (Coordinator: Prof. Franco MACERI, University of Rome, Italy)
• 2006-2008: Member of the University of Pisa Research Group of the project "Structures made of microstructural materials. A challenge for modern civil engineering", co-financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under PRIN 2005 (Coordinator: Prof. Franco MACERI, University of Rome, Italy)