Presentation

The present project focuses on the development of computational mechanics models for renewable energy applications. This field is quite recent and demands a multidisciplinary research where structural mechanics can have an important role. Interface mechanical problems, the fil rouge of the present project, are in fact one of the main concerns in the design of photovoltaic laminates, MEMS for energy harvesting, as well as fuel cells. Aiming at influencing the industrial environment, the common modelling framework will be tailored to the specific applications by the research units. In this way, the project will cover a wide range of energy applications. The research unit at Politecnico di Torino will develop analytical and computational models based on the multiscale finite element method for the study of cracking and contact problems in photovoltaic (PV) laminates. In particular, the challenging issues of durability assessment of existing PV modules subjected to thermal cycles and characterization of fracture processes for the design of innovative solar cells will be tackled. The research unit at the University of Salento will work at the computational design and optimization of a novel piezoelectric micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) for energy harvesting applications. This will preliminary entail the full electromechanical characterization of the piezoelectric material and of the interface between the thin piezoelectric film and its substrate. In turn, the characterization will require the development of novel multiphysics 3D numerical continuum, contact and interface models, as well as the recourse to advanced experimental testing. Finally, the research unit at the University of Trento will work on the development of analytical and computational models of the contact and fracture behaviour in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interfaces. The aim will be the reduction of the cost and the improvement of the performance, durability and safety of fuel cell systems for stationary and transport applications, to enable them to compete with conventional combustion technologies. Experimental work will complement the theoretical and numerical research in all the parts of the project.

Final scientific report of the project (in Italian) for download

Research units

Research unit at Politecnico di Torino

Prof. Marco Paggi (Principal Investigator and responsible of the research unit, IMT Institute for Advanced Studies Lucca)
Prof. Alberto Carpinteri, Full Professor, Politecnico di Torino
Dr. Ing. Mauro Corrado, Assistant Professor, Politecnico di Torino and Marie Curie Fellow at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Dr. Alberto Sapora, Post-doc, Politecnico di Torino
Ing. Saheed Ojo, PhD student, Politecnico di Torino
Ing. Andrea Infuso, PhD student, Politecnico di Torino and Visiting Scholar at the University of Paris-Est (Marne-la-Vallée, France)
Ing. Irene Berardone, PhD student, Politecnico di Torino and Visiting scholar at the Institute for Solar Energy Research (Hamelin, Germany)

Research unit at University of Salento

Prof. Laura De Lorenzis (Responsible of the research unit, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany)
Prof. Giorgio Zavarise, Full Professor, University of Salento
Prof. Massimo De Vittorio, Associate Professor, University of Salento
Dr. Ing. Claudio Maruccio, Post-doc, University of Salento
Dr. Bruno Torre, Italian Institute of Technology
Dr. Rossana Dimitri, University of Salento
Dr. Viviana Palmieri, University of Salento

Research unit at University of Trento

Prof. Andrea Piccolroaz (Responsible of the research unit, University of Trento)
Prof. Davide Bigoni, Full Professor, University of Trento
Dr. Lorenzo Morini, Assistant Professor, University of Trento
Dr. Ing. Andrea Bacigalupo, Post-doc, University of Trento
Dr. Luca Prakash Argani, Post-doc, University of Trento

Publications and communications

Research unit at Politecnico di Torino

Publications in international journals

M. Paggi, M. Corrado, I. Berardone (2016) A global/local approach for the prediction of the electric response of cracked solar cells in photovoltaic modules under the action of mechanical loads, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, in press, doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2016.01.018
S.O. Ojo, M. Paggi (2016) A thermo-visco-elastic shear-lag model for the prediction of residual stresses in photovoltaic modules after lamination, Composite Structures, 136, 481-492, doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2015.10.023
R. Jones, F. Chen, S. Pitt, M. Paggi, A. Carpinteri (2016) From NASGRO to fractals: Representing crack growth in metals, International Journal of Fatigue, 82, 540-549, doi:10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2015.09.009
I. Berardone, S. Kajari-Schröder, R. Niepelt, J. Hensen, V. Steckenreiter, M. Paggi (2015) Numerical modelling and validation of thermally-induced spalling, Energy Procedia, 77, 855-862, doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.121
F. Spertino, A. Ciocia, P. Di Leo, R. Tommasini, I. Berardone, M. Corrado, A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2015) A power and energy procedure in operating photovoltaic systems to quantify the losses according to the causes, Solar Energy, 118, 313-326, doi:10.1016/j.solener.2015.05.003
O.S. Ojo, S. Grivet Talocia, M. Paggi (2015) Model order reduction applied to heat conduction in photovoltaic modules, Composite Structures, 119, 477-486, doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.09.008
M. Paggi, A. Sapora (2015) An accurate thermoviscoelastic rheological model for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate based on fractional calculus, International Journal of Photoenergy, article ID 257740, doi:10.1155/2015/252740
M. Paggi, R. Pohrt, V.L. Popov (2014) Partial-slip frictional response of rough surfaces, Scientific Reports, 4, paper no. 5178 doi:10.1038/srep05178
M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Dynamic nonlinear crack growth at interfaces in multi-layered materials, Procedia Materials Science, 3, 1971-1976, doi:10.1016/j.mspro.2014.06.317
I. Berardone, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) A generalized electric model for mono and polycrystalline silicon in the presence of cracks and random defects, Energy Procedia, 55, 22-29, doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.08.005
M. Paggi, I. Berardone, A. Infuso, M. Corrado (2014) Fatigue degradation and electric recovery in Silicon solar cells embedded in photovoltaic modules, Scientific Reports, 4:1-7, paper no. 04506, doi:10.1038/srep04506
A. Infuso, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Image analysis of polycrystalline solar cells and modeling of intergranular and transgranular cracking, Journal of European Ceramic Society, 34:2713–2722, doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.12.051
A. Carpinteri, M. Paggi (2014) The effect of crack size and specimen size on the relation between the Paris and Wöhler curves. Meccanica, 49:765-773, doi:10.1007/s11012-014-9908-y
M. Paggi, O. Plekhov (2014) On the dependency of the parameters of fatigue crack growth from the fractal dimension of rough crack profiles, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 228:2059-2067, doi:10.1177/0954406213515643
I.G. García, M. Paggi, V. Mantič (2014) Fiber-size effects on the onset of fiber–matrix debonding under transverse tension: A comparison between cohesive zone and finite fracture mechanics models, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 115:96-110, doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2013.10.014
A. Sapora, M. Codegone, G. Barbero, L.R. Evangelista (2014) Adsorption–desorption phenomena and diffusion of neutral particles in the hyperbolic regime, Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 47:015002, doi:10.1088/1751-8113/47/1/015002
A. Sapora, M. Paggi (2014) A coupled cohesive zone model for transient analysis of thermoelastic interface debonding, Computational Mechanics, 53:845-857, doi:10.1007/s00466-013-0934-8
A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2014) Flaw-tolerance of nonlocal discrete systems and interpretation according to network theory, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 29:302-312, doi:10.3221/IGF-ESIS.29.26
M. Paggi, A. Sapora (2013) Numerical modelling of microcracking in PV modules induced by thermo-mechanical loads, Energy Procedia, 38:506-515, doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.310 (open access)
A. Sapora, M. Codegone, G. Barbero (2013) Diffusion phenomenon in the hyperbolic and parabolic regimes, Physics Letters A, 377:2416-2421, doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2013.07.009
A. Sapora, P. Cornetti, A. Carpinteri (2013) A Finite Fracture Mechanics approach to V-notched elements subjected to mixed-mode loading, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 97:216-226, doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2012.11.006.
A. Sapora, P. Cornetti, A. Carpinteri (2013) Wave propagation in nonlocal elastic continua modelled by a fractional calculus approach, Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 18:63-74, doi:10.1016/j.cnsns.2012.06.017
M. Paggi, M. Corrado, M.A. Rodriguez (2013) A multi-physics and multi-scale numerical approach to microcracking and power-loss in photovoltaic modules, Composite Structures, 95:630-638, doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.08.014

Communications at international conferences

M. Paggi, I. Berardone, M. Corrado (2015) Numerical model for the prediction of the electric response of Solar Cells in presence of cracks, The European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition 2015 (EU PVSEC 2015), Hamburg, Germany, September 14-18, 2015 PDF file, poster.
A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2015) Computational modeling of molecular discrete systems: the role of nonlocality on flaw-tolerance. IV International Conference on Computational Modeling of Fracture and Failure of Materials and Structures CFRAC2015, Paris, France, June 3-5, 2015 PDF file.
I. Berardone, J. Hensen, V. Steckenreiter, S. Kajari-Schroeder, M. Paggi (2015) Numerical simulation of the kerf-less spalling technique in the presence of a non planar Aluminum- Silicon interface, 8th International Workshop on Crystalline Silicon for Solar Cells (CSSC-8), Bamberg, Germany, May 5-8, 2015 PDF file
I. Berardone, S. Kajari-Schröder, R. Niepelt, J. Hensen, V. Steckenreiter, M. Paggi (2015) Numerical modelling and validation of thermally-induced spalling, 5th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics (SiliconPV 2015), Constance, Germany, March 23-25, 2015 PDF file
M. Paggi, I. Berardone, M. Corrado (2014) A coupled thermo-electro-mechanical model for fracture in solar cells. 16th European Conference on Composite Materials, Seville, Spain, June 22-26, 2014 PDF file
I. Berardone, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) A generalized electric model for mono and polycrystalline silicon in the presence of cracks and random defects, 4th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics (SiliconPV 2014), 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, March 25-27, 2014 PDF file
A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2014) Fracture in discrete systems simulated by MD-FEM:the role of nonlocality and its effect on flaw-tolerance, XXIV International Workshop on Computational Micromechanics of Materials, IWCMM24, Madrid, Spain, October 1-3, 2014 PDF file
M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Dynamic nonlinear debonding at interfaces in thin-walled layered systems, 11th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM XI), Barcelona, Spain, July 20-25, 2014 PDF file
M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Dynamic nonlinear crack growth at interfaces in multi-layered materials, 20th European Conference on Fracture 20th European Conference on Fracture (ECF 20), Trondheim, Norway, June 30-July 4, 2014 PDF file
A. Sapora, M. Paggi (2013) Study of of thermoelastic effects in laminated composites by the cohesive zone model, ICCS17 17th International Conference on Composite Structures, Porto, Portugal, 17-20 June 2013 PDF file
M. Paggi, J.R. Barber (2013) Identification of interface constitutive law from global stiffness data:a numerical optimization approach, III South-East European Conference on Computational Mechanics, June 12-14, 2013, Kos Island, GreecePDF file
M. Paggi, A. Carpinteri (2013) A shear transfer model for rough joints based on contact and fracture mechanics. 8th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Toledo, Spain, March 10-14, 2013, paper no. 293 on CD-ROM (p. 1-8) PDF file
M. Paggi, M. Corrado (2013) Modelling of intergranular and transgranular cracking in polycrystalline silicon solar cells, 6th ECCOMAS Conference on Smart Structures and Materials, SMART2013, Politecnico di Torino, Italy, 24-26 June 2013, paper no. 20130425091434 on CD-ROM (p. 1-10) PDF file
M. Paggi, A. Sapora (2013) Numerical modelling of microcracking in PV modules induced by thermo-mechanical loads, 3rd International Conference on Silicon Photovoltaics, SiliconPV 2013, Hamelin, Germany, March 25-27, 2013, PDF file
A. Infuso, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2013) Image analysis of polycrystalline solar cells and modeling of intergranular and transgranular cracking, Modelling and Simulation Meet Innovation in Ceramics Technology, CERMODEL, Trento, Italy, July 10-12, 2013, PDF file
A. Sapora, P. Cornetti, A. Carpinteri (2013) Wave propagation in fractional nonlocal elastic continua, In: Fractional Differentiation and its Applications, Volume 6, Part 1, 6th Workshop on Fractional Differentiation and Its Applications (Part of 2013 IFAC Joint Conference SSSC, FDA, TDS), Grenoble (Francia), February 4-6, 2013, 599-604, doi:10.3182/20130204-3-FR-4032.00103, PDF file
A. Carpinteri, M. Paggi (2012) Crack size dependencies of Paris' law, fatigue threshold and fatigue limit: An interpretation based on fractality of crack surfaces, IUTAM Symposium on Fracture Phenomena in Nature and Technology, Brescia, Italy, 1-5 July, 2012, PDF file
M. Paggi, M. Corrado, M.A. Rodriguez (2012) A multi-scale and multi-physics numerical approach to microcracking in photovoltaic laminates, International Conference on Mechanics of Nano, Micro and Macro Composite Structures, Torino, Italy, 18-20 June, 2012, PDF file
M. Paggi, J.R. Barber (2012) Thermal contact conductance of rough surfaces: dimensional analysis considerations and computational issues, EUROMECH Colloquium 514 New Trends in Contact Mechanics, Cargese, France, 27-31 March, 2012, PDF file

Communications at national conferences

M. Paggi (2013) Emergent properties in interface mechanical problems, XXI Congress of the Italian Association of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Torino, Italy, September 17-20, 2013 PDF file
M. Paggi (2013) Integrity and durability of photovoltaic modules: An overview of mechanical failure modes, XXII Congress of the Italian Group of Fracture, Roma, Italy, July 1-3, 2013, Acta Fracturae, ISSN: 2281-1442, p. 16-22, PDF file
A. Giacardi. M. Paggi (2012) Efficiency and durability of photovoltaic modules: experimental methods and computational modelling, 7° Energy Forum, Bressanone, Italy, December 6-7, 2012, PDF file

Research unit at University of Salento

Publications in international journals

C. Maruccio, G. Quaranta, L. De Lorenzis, G. Monti (2016) Energy harvesting from electrospun piezoelectric nanowires for structural health monitoring of a cable-stayed bridge, Smart Materials and Structures, submitted.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, L. Persano, D. Pisignano (2015) Computational homogenization of fibrous piezoelectric materials, Computational Mechanics, 55:983-998.
P. Phung-Van, L. De Lorenzis, C.H. Thai, M. Abdel-Wahab, H. Nguyen-Xuan (2015) Analysis of laminated composite plates integrated with piezoelectric sensors and actuators using higher-order shear deformation theory and isogeometric finite elements, Computational Materials Science, 96 Part B:495-505.
F. Di Benedetto, V. Fasano, L. Persano, C. Maruccio, E. Mele, G. Potente, D. A. Weitz, L. De Lorenzis, D. Pisignano (2013) Rolling particle lithography by soft polymer microparticles, Soft Matter, 9:2206-2211, doi:10.1039/C2SM27327F
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis (2014) Numerical homogenization of piezoelectric textiles with electrospun fibers for energy harvesting, Fracture and Structural Integrity, 29:49-60, doi:10.3221/IGF-ESIS.29.06
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, L. Persano, D. Pisignano (2014) A multiscale-multiphysics strategy for numerical modeling of thin piezoelectric sheets, Journal of Energy Challenges and Mechanics, 1:1-6.
L. Persano, C. Dagdeviren, C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, D. Pisignano (2014) Cooperativity in the enhanced piezoelectric response of polymer nanowires, Advanced Materials, 26:7574-7580.

Communications at international conferences

C. Maruccio, G. Quaranta, L. De Lorenzis, G. Monti (2016) Piezoelectric polymeric nanowires for energy harvesting devices in wireless sensor networks of smart bridges. RISUD Annual International Symposium – Smart Cities (RAIS), Hong Kong, China, 23-24 August 2016.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, L. Persano, D. Pisignano (2014) A multiscale-multiphysics strategy for numerical modeling of thin piezoelectric sheets. 1st International Symposium on Energy Challenges and Mechanics, Aberdeen, Scotland (UK), July 8-10, 2014.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, L. Persano, D. Pisignano, G. Zavarise (2013) Multiscale modeling of piezoelectric materials. 6th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Smart Structures and Materials, SMART2013, Torino, Italy, June 24-26, 2013.

Communications at national conferences

C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis (2016) A FE2 approach for multiscale modeling of energy harvesting devices. XXI Convegno Italiano di Meccanica Computazionale, Lucca, June 11-13, 2016.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, J. Korelc (2015) Two scale computational homogenization of piezoelectric textiles. XXII Congress of the Italian Association of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Genova, September 14-17, 2015.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, G. Zavarise (2013) Multiphysics modeling of thin piezoelectric film made of polymeric nanofibers. XXI Congress of the Italian Association of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Torino, Italy, September 17-20, 2013.
C. Maruccio, L. De Lorenzis, L. Persano, D. Pisignano (2013) A multilevel finite element approach for piezoelectric textiles made of polymeric nanofibers. XX Convegno Nazionale di Meccanica Computazionale GIMC. Cassino, Italy, June 11-13, 2014.

Research unit at University of Trento

Publications in international journals

A. Bacigalupo, L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2016) Overall thermomechanical properties of layered materials for energy devices applications, Composite Structures, submitted,
L. Pryce, L. Morini, D. Andreeva, A. Zagnetko (2016) Interfacial Cracks in Piezoelectric Bimaterials: an approach based on Weight Functions and Boundary Integral Equations, Archives of Applied Mechanics submitted, Arxiv Preprint
A. Bacigalupo, L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2016) Multiscale asymptotic homogenization analysis of thermo-diffusive composite materials, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 85-86, 15-33. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2016.01.016
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2015) Boundary integral formulation for interfacial cracks in thermodiffusive bimaterials, Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 471, 20150284. doi:10.1098/rspa.2015.0284
A. Bacigalupo, L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2014) Effective elastic properties of planar SOFCs: A non-local dynamic homogenization approach, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39, 15017-15030. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.104
P.A. Gourgiotis, A. Piccolroaz (2014) Steady-state propagation of a Mode II crack in couple stress elasticity, International Journal of Fracture, 188, 119-145. doi:10.1007/s10704-014-9950-8
A. Bacigalupo, L. Gambarotta (2014) Homogenization of periodic hexa- and tetrachiral cellular solids, Composite Structures, 116, 461-476. doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.05.033
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz, G. Mishuris, G. (2014) Remarks on the energy release rate for an antiplane moving crack in couple stress elasticity, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 51, 3087-3100. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2014.05.005
G. Mishuris, A. Piccolroaz, A. Vellender (2014) Boundary integral formulation for cracks at imperfect interfaces, The Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics. doi:10.1093/qjmam/hbu010
L. Pryce, L. Morini, G. Mishuris (2013) Weight function approach to a crack propagating along a bimaterial interface under arbitrary loading in an anisotropic solid, Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, 8, 479-500. doi:10.2140/jomms.2013.8.479
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz, G. Mishuris, E. Radi (2013) On fracture criteria for a crack propagating in couple stress elastic materials, International Journal of Engineering Science, 71, 45-61. doi:10.1016/j.ijengsci.2013.05.005
A. Vellender, G. Mishuris, A. Piccolroaz, A. (2013) Perturbation analysis for an imperfect interface crack problem using weight function techniques, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 50, 4098-4107. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2013.08.023

Communications at international conferences

L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2015) Boundary integral formulation for interface crack problem in presence of thermodiffusion. ESMC2016 - 9th European Solid Mechanics Conference. Madrid, Spain, 6-10 July, 2015.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2015) Modelling the effects of thermal and diffusive stresses on fracture processes in ceramic components of solid oxide fuel cells. CERMODEL 2015 - Modelling and Simulation Meet Innovation in Ceramics Technology. Trento, Italy, 1-3 July, 2015.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2014) Modelling of cracks propagation in solid oxide fuell cells. 3rd International Conference on Fracture, Fatigue and Wear. Kitakyushu, Japan, 31 August- 3 September, 2014.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2014) Modelling of interface cracks in thermodiffusive media with applications to solid oxide fuell cells devices. 1st International Symposium on Energy Challenges and Mechanics. Aberdeen, UK, 8-10 July, 2014.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2014) Modelling of interface cracks between dissimilar ceramic materials for solid oxide fuell cells fabrication. 42th International Conference “Advanced Problems in Mechanics”. St. Petersburg, Russia, 30 June- 5 July, 2014.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz, G. Mishuris (2013) Dynamic energy release rate in couple-stress elasticity. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 451 012014 International Symposium on Dynamic Deformation and Fracture of Advanced Materials 2013. Loughborough University, UK, 9-11 September 2013. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/451/1/012014
L. Pryce, L. Morini, G. Mishuris (2013) Analysis of interfacial crack propagation under asymmetric loading in anisotropic materials. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 451 012011 International Symposium on Dynamic Deformation and Fracture of Advanced Materials 2013. Loughborough University, UK, 9-11 September 2013. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/451/1/012014
A. Vellender, G. Mishuris, A. Piccolroaz (2013) Application of imperfect interface weight function techniques for modelling of glued structures containing cracks and small defects. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 451 012013 International Symposium on Dynamic Deformation and Fracture of Advanced Materials 2013. Loughborough University, UK, 9-11 September 2013. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/451/1/012013
A. Piccolroaz, L. Morini, G. Mishuris, P.A. Gourgiotis (2013) Loading profile effects on dynamic crack propagation in couple stress elastic materials. 10th HSTAM International Congress on Mechanics. Chania, Crete, Greece, 25-27 May 2013.
A. Piccolroaz, L. Morini, P. Gourgiotis (2013) Fracture modelling of microstructured ceramics. Modelling and Simulation Meet Innovation in Ceramics Technology, CERMODEL 2013, Trento, Italy, July 10-12, 2013.
A. Piccolroaz, L. Morini, P. Gourgiotis (2013) Incorporating intrinsic length-scales in fracture toughness of microstructured ceramics. 13th International Conference of the European Ceramic Society. Limoges, France, June 23-27, 2013.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2013) Modelling of cracks propagation in solid oxide fuell cells. The 6th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Smart Structures and Materials. Torino, Italy, June 25-26, 2013.
A. Piccolroaz, L. Morini, G. Mishuris, E. Radi (2013) Integral identities for a semi-infinite interfacial crack in anisotropic elastic bimaterials. The Third International Conference on Computational Modeling of Fracture and Failure of Materials and Structures. Prague, Czech Republic, June 5-7, 2013.
A. Piccolroaz, L. Morini, P.A. Gourgiotis, G. Mishuris, G. (2013) Loading profile effects on dynamic crack propagation in couple stress elastic materials. 10th HSTAM 2013 International Congress on Mechanics. Chania, Crete, May 25-27, 2013.

Communications at national conferences

A. Bacigalupo, L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz (2015) Asymptotic homogenization of periodic thermo-diffusive heterogeneous media. XXII Congresso Associazione Italiana di Meccanica Teorica e Applicata. Genova, September 14-17, 2015.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz, G. Mishuris (2015) Dynamic fracture criteria in couple stress elasticity. XXII Congresso Associazione Italiana di Meccanica Teorica e Applicata. Genova, September 14-17, 2015.
L. Morini, A. Piccolroaz, G. Mishuris (2013) Interfacial crack problems in 2D and 3D elasticity: a singular integral formulation. XXI Congresso Associazione Italiana di Meccanica Teorica e Applicata. Torino, September 17-20, 2013.

Outreach activities

Dissemination

Poliflash, Newsletter No. 26 of Politecnico di Torino, June 2011.
Article on the newspaper "La Stampa"

Special sessions (also project meetings)

Material simulation for energy applications. In the 1st International Symposium on Energy Challenges and Mechanics, July 8-10, 2014, Aberdeen, UK, organized by D. Antoun, L. De Lorenzis, M. Paggi, A. Piccolroaz.
Multiphysics and multiscale modelling of composites for renewable energy applications. In the 2013 ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Smart Materials and Structures, June 24-26, 2013, Torino, Italy, organized by M. Paggi, L. De Lorenzis, A. Piccolroaz.

Invited seminars

L. Morini: Cracks propagation in solid oxide fuell cells: a singular integral formulation, Seminar at the Department of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, Tokyo University of Technology, Tokyo, Japan, August 27, 2014,
M. Paggi: Recent advances of interface constitutive laws for Fracture Mechanics, Seminar at the Institute of Structural Mechanics of the Leibniz University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany, August 19-23, 2013, PDF file
M. Paggi: Quantitative analysis of cracking in in photovoltaic modules using a multi-physics approach, Seminar at the Institute of Solar Energy Research, Hamelin, Germany, June 3, 2014, PDF file
M. Paggi: Multi-scale and multi-physics models applied to interface problems, Seminar at the University of Paris-EST, Marne-La-Valléee, France, May 16, 2014, PDF file
M. Paggi: Modelling of cracking in PV modules: Physical aspects and Computational Methods, Opening lecture of the Workshop Measurements and Models for PV-Module analysis, Institute of Solar Energy Research, Hamelin, Germany, November 5, 2013, PDF file
M. Paggi: Emergent properties in interface mechanical problems: A paradigm of organized complexity, Seminar at the IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italy, March 5, 2013, PDF file

Other

Theses

A. Beltramo (2013) Monitoring of microcracking in photovoltaic modules with the electroluminescence technique, Bachelor Thesis in Energetics, Politecnico di Torino. Advisors: Prof. M. Paggi and Ing. I. Berardone. Ing. Beltramo is currently a student of a master program at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
D. Leone (2013) Modelling of the viscoelastic behaviour of materials used in photovoltaic modules, Master Thesis in Civil Engineering, Politecnico di Torino. Advisors: Prof. M. Paggi and Dr. M. Corrado.
S. Prajapat (2013) Modellazione numerica di materiali piezoelettrici con il metodo degli elementi finiti, Master Thesis of the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento. Advisors: Prof. G. Zavarise, Ing. C. Maruccio.
A. Grazioso (2012) Teoria e applicazioni di piezoelasticità lineare, Master Thesis of the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento. Advisors: Prof. L. De Lorenzis, Ing. C. Maruccio.