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).
We've created a new vibration-proof metamaterial that could save premature babies' lives
Jan 20, 2017 15:12 pm UTC| Science
There are 16,000 transfers of premature babies to medical facilities each year in the UK alone. The babies are often transported over large distances from rural to city locations over significant periods of time, in some...