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Professor of Smart Materials & Structures, University of Bristol

My research interests are in the field of auxetics - negative Poisson's ratio and negative stiffness materials. I design, model and manufacture auxetic foams, composites and cellular structures for structural integrity, vibration damping, vibroacoustiics and multifunctional applications. I also develop predictive micromechanical and structural models for energy dissipation performance in composite and polymeric structures.

Another set of research activities I carry out is about nanostructures modelling and design, with particular emphasis on graphene, CNTs, BN, ZnO and GaN nanostructures. Special focus of the nanostructures-related activities is about the mechanical characterisation of the nanomaterials for applications ranging between nanocomposites to NEMS.

I am also involved in the modelling, manufacturing and characterizatio of natural fibre reinforcements for composites (sisal, agave, cactus), and recycled polymers (originated from rubber tyres).