Proposta Traduzione:
The Multifunctional Metamaterials Educational Laboratory (LabDid-MM) focuses on two main objectives. On the one hand, it aims to provide a solid basis of integrated teaching for transdisciplinary areas concerning metamaterials, multifunctional artificial materials and metastructures. This involves exploring advanced concepts and applications related to these emerging disciplines. On the other hand, LabDid-MM aims at creating a platform dedicated to teaching experiments in traditional courses on the design and mechanics of materials and structures. In this way, the laboratory is aimed at both doctoral, master and bachelor degree courses, offering learning and research opportunities in a stimulating and innovative environment.
On the first focus, the topics addressed in the LabDid-MM include
- Modeling and numerical simulation of Multifunctional Metamaterials for mechanical, structural and electromagnetic applications;
- Automated and semi-automated prototyping of Multifunctional Metamaterials with unconventional properties;
- Characterization and measurement from the mechanical, electromagnetic, and structural point of view of Multifunctional Metamaterials in a controlled environment and/or in small-scale application scenarios;
- Study of the transversal applications of Multifunctional Metamaterials concerning multiple disciplinary areas including structural engineering, electromagnetic engineering, mechanical engineering;
- Creation of scale models of metastructures capable of mitigating seismic action and verification of the models through shaking table tests;
- Creation of scale models of metastructures for the mitigation of stochastic vibrations of different nature (i.e., traffic vibrations, turbulence vibrations, etc.).
The types of activities include, but are not limited to:
- Computer design and evaluation of functional metamaterials starting from their analytical description up to the simulated multi-scale model ready for prototyping;
- Design and non-linear structural analysis (including both inelasticity and geometric non-linearity) of metastructures (e.g., metafoundations) for the mitigation of seismic action;
- Computational characterization through low-fidelity models of metastructures essential for their probabilistic performance characterization;
- The prototyping of scale models of the designed Multifunctional Metamaterials and their validation in complex systems of interest;
- The measurement of the physical characteristics of the Multifunctional Metamaterials created and the comparison with traditional structures.
As regards the second focus, the laboratory supports teaching activities regarding several scientific sectors including Electromagnetic Fields, Construction Science and Technology, and Materials Science and Energy Engineering in both bachelor's and master's degrees, to conduct educational experiments and small-scale projects. In particular, it is possible for students to create samples independently using 3D printers, and small experiments are also planned using the shaking table to characterize the performance of different structural configurations. These experiments allow students to gain in-depth, practical knowledge of mechanical and dynamic properties and seismic mitigation techniques. The laboratory therefore offers a stimulating environment in which students can apply the theoretical concepts learned in the courses, putting the different techniques into practice and evaluating the performance of structures in seismic situations. Experiments are also conducted that allow the treatment of electromagnetic waves and the energetic aspects of materials, including energy harvesting, thermoelectric materials, etc.
Furthermore, the LabDid-MM is an essential and completely integrated part of the teaching activities of numerous PhD courses including the following
- PhD Course “Waves in Metamaterials and Periodic Structures”;
- PhD Course “Surface Electromagnetics for Wireless Communications and Sensing”;
- PhD Course “Multiphysics Metamaterials Theory and Engineering Applications”;
- PhD Course “Molecular Dynamics: a primer with elements of statistical mechanics”.