Professor Massimiliano Gei
MSc, PhD
Professor
- geim@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4316
- W/2.44, Queen's Buildings, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Overview
Professor of Solid Mechanics and Structures
Leader, Multiphysics Mechanics cross-cutting research theme
Applied and Computational Mechanics group
Research interests
Modelling soft electroactive materials for actuation, energy harvesting, sensing.
Soft robotics.
Optimal design of dielectric elastomer composites.
Structural metamaterials and cloaking.
Quasiperiodic and quasicrystalline structures and materials.
Finite elasticity.
Instabilities in smart materials and of smart structures.
Masonry and ancient structures.
Retrofitting techniques in earthquake engineering.
Reviewer for the following leading journals
Physical Review Letters, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, Applied Physics Letters, Physical Review Applied, Proceedings of the Royal Society A, International Journal of Solids and Structures, Smart Materials and Structures, Journal of Polymer Science-Part B etc.
Biography
Education
2001 - PhD in Materials and Structural Engineering (University of Trento).
1997 - MSc in Civil Engineering - Structures Curriculum (University of Bologna), Summa Cum Laude.
Visiting Professorships and Scholarships
2018 - Tufts University, Medford (MA), USA
2018 - Harvard University, Cambridge (MA), USA
2017 - University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
2016 - KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
2015 - University College London, London, UK
2014, 2013 - Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
2013 - Technical University - Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
2011, 2009, 2007 - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
2011, 2009, 2008, 2007 - University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
2004 - Polish Academy of Sciences (IPPT-PAN), Warsaw, Poland
2000 - University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Academic positions
Associate Professor (University of Trento, 2011-2015).
Assistant Professor (University of Trento, 2005-2011).
Research Associate (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 2001-2004).
Publications
2020
- Bafrani, H. A.et al. 2020. On the use of boundary conditions and thermophysical properties of nanoparticles for application of nanofluids as coolant in nuclear power plants; a numerical study. Progress in Nuclear Energy 126, article number: 103417. (10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103417)
- Hamedani, A.et al. 2020. Evaluation of single heated channel and subchannel modeling of a nuclear once through steam generator (OTSG). Kerntechnik 85(1), pp. 54-67. (10.3139/124.110993)
- Noori-kalkhoran, O. and Gei, M. 2020. Evaluation of neutron radiation damage in zircaloy fuel clad of nuclear power plants: a study based on PKA and dpa calculations. Progress in Nuclear Energy 118, article number: 103079. (10.1016/j.pnucene.2019.103079)
- Morini, L.et al. 2020. On the universality of the frequency spectrum and band-gap optimisation of quasicrystalline-generated structured rods. Philosophical Transactions A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 378(2162), article number: 20190240. (10.1098/rsta.2019.0240)
- Gei, M.et al. 2020. Phononic canonical quasicrystalline waveguides. Applied Physics Letters 116(24), article number: 241903. (10.1063/5.0013528)
- Rossi, M., Veber, D. and Gei, M. 2020. Numerical assessment of the performance of elastic cloaks for transient flexural waves. Frontiers in Materials 7, pp. 385. (10.3389/fmats.2020.603667)
2019
- Volpini, V., Bardella, L. and Gei, M. 2019. A note on the solution of the electro-elastic boundary-value problem for rank-two laminates at finite strains. Meccanica 54(13), pp. 1971-1982. (10.1007/s11012-019-00974-9)
- Calabrese, L.et al. 2019. A soft robot structure with limbless resonant, stick and slip locomotion. Smart Materials and Structures 28(10), article number: 104005. (10.1088/1361-665X/ab3de1)
- Noori-kalkhoran, O.et al. 2019. Simulation of hydrogen distribution and effect of Engineering Safety Features (ESFs) on its mitigation in a WWER-1000 containment. Nuclear Science and Techniques 30(6), article number: 97. (10.1007/s41365-019-0624-0)
- Morini, L., Eyzat, Y. and Gei, M. 2019. Negative refraction in quasicrystalline multilayered metamaterials. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 124, pp. 282-298. (10.1016/j.jmps.2018.10.016)
2018
- Gei, M. and Mutasa, K. C. 2018. Optimisation of hierarchical dielectric elastomer laminated composites. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 106, pp. 266-273. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2018.06.005)
- Morini, L. and Gei, M. 2018. Waves in one-dimensional quasicrystalline structures: dynamical trace mapping, scaling and self-similarity of the spectrum. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 119, pp. 83-103. (10.1016/j.jmps.2018.06.007)
- Calabrese, L.et al. 2018. Active compression bandage made of electroactive elastomers. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 23(5), pp. 2328-2337. (10.1109/TMECH.2018.2860789)
- Gei, M. and Misseroni, D. 2018. Experimental investigation of progressive instability and collapse of no-tension brickwork pillars. International Journal of Solids and Structures 155, pp. 81-88. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2018.07.010)
- Al Mutairi, M. S.et al. 2018. Effects of a moving load on a nonhomogeneous bridge beam. Presented at: International Conference on Transportation and Development 2018: Planning, Sustainability, and Infrastructure Systems, Pittsburgh, US, 15–18 Jul 2018 Presented at Wang, Y. and McNerney, M. eds.International Conference on Transportation and Development 2018: Planning, Sustainability, and Infrastructure Systems. American Society of Civil Engineers pp. 353-362., (10.1061/9780784481561.035)
- Broseghini, M.et al. 2018. Progressive instability in circular masonry columns. Engineering Structures 157, pp. 96-104. (10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.11.044)
- Noorikalkhoran, O. and Gei, M. 2018. Simulation of hydrogen distribution due to in-vessel severe accident in WWER-1000 NPP containment: a comparison of CONTAIN and MELCOR codes results. Presented at: 26th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, London, UK, 22-26 Jul 20182018 26th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Thermal-Hydraulics and Safety Analyses, Vol. 6B. ASME pp. V06BT08A071-V06BT08A071., (10.1115/ICONE26-82635)
2016
- Schlaak, F. H.et al. 2016. Dielectric Elastomer as EAPs: Models. In: Carpi, F. ed. Electromechanically Active Polymers. Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series Springer International Publishing, pp. 715-738.
- Bortot, E.et al. 2016. Analysis of viscoelastic soft dielectric elastomer generators operating in an electrical circuit. International Journal of Solids and Structures 78-79, pp. 205-215. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2015.06.004)
2015
- Bortot, E. and Gei, M. 2015. Harvesting energy with load-driven dielectric elastomer annular membranes deforming out-of-plane. Extreme Mechanics Letters 5, pp. 62-73. (10.1016/j.eml.2015.09.009)
- Bortot, E., Gei, M. and deBotton, G. 2015. Optimal energy harvesting cycles for load-driven dielectric elastomer generators under equibiaxial deformation. Meccanica 50(11), pp. 2751-2766. (10.1007/s11012-015-0213-1)
- Bortot, E. and Gei, M. 2015. Harvesting energy with an out-of-plane dielectric elastomer generator. PAMM 15(1), pp. 379-380. (10.1002/pamm.201510180)
- Carpi, F.et al. 2015. Standards for dielectric elastomer transducers. Smart Materials and Structures 24(10), article number: 105025. (10.1088/0964-1726/24/10/105025)
- Bortot, E.et al. 2015. Optimization of load-driven soft dielectric elastomer generators. Procedia IUTAM 12, pp. 42-51. (10.1016/j.piutam.2014.12.006)
2014
- Colquitt, D. J.et al. 2014. Transformation elastodynamics and cloaking for flexural waves. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 72, pp. 131-143. (10.1016/j.jmps.2014.07.014)
- Bortot, E.et al. 2014. Analysis of a viscous soft dielectric elastomer generator operating in an electrical circuit. PAMM 14(1), pp. 511-512. (10.1002/pamm.201410243)
- Springhetti, R.et al. 2014. Optimal energy-harvesting cycles for load-driven dielectric generators in plane strain. IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics 79(5), pp. 929-946. (10.1093/imamat/hxu025)
- Bosi, F.et al. 2014. Experimental investigation of the elastoplastic response of aluminum silicate spray dried powder during cold compaction. Journal of the European Ceramic Society 34(11), pp. 2633-2642. (10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.11.037)
- Bortot, E., Springhetti, R. and Gei, M. 2014. Enhanced soft dielectric composite generators: the role of ceramic fillers. Journal of the European Ceramic Society 34(11), pp. 2623-2632. (10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.12.014)
- Gei, M., Colonnelli, S. and Springhetti, R. 2014. The role of electrostriction on the stability of dielectric elastomer actuators. International Journal of Solids and Structures 51(3-4), pp. 848-860. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2013.11.011)
2013
- Bigoni, D.et al. 2013. Special issue: fracture phenomena in nature and technology[foreword]. International Journal of Fracture 184(1-2), pp. 1-1.
- Gei, M., Springhetti, R. and Bortot, E. 2013. Performance of soft dielectric laminated composites. Smart Materials and Structures 22(10), article number: 104014. (10.1088/0964-1726/22/10/104014)
- Carpi, F. and Gei, M. 2013. Predictive stress-stretch models of elastomers up to the characteristic flex. Smart Materials and Structures 22(10), article number: 104011. (10.1088/0964-1726/22/10/104011)
2012
- Shmuel, G., Gei, M. and deBotton, G. 2012. The Rayleigh-Lamb wave propagation in dielectric elastomer layers subjected to large deformations. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 47(2), pp. 307-316. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2011.06.013)
- Gei, M., Colonnelli, S. and Springhetti, R. 2012. A framework to investigate instabilities of homogeneous and composite dielectric elastomer actuators. SPIE Proceedings: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 8340 (10.1117/12.915340)
2011
- Jones, I. S., Movchan, A. B. and Gei, M. 2011. Waves and damage in structured solids with multi-scale resonators. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 467(2128), pp. 964-984. (10.1098/rspa.2010.0319)
- Gei, M., Roccabianca, S. and Bacca, M. 2011. Controlling bandgap in electroactive polymer-based structures. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics 16(1), pp. 102-107. (10.1109/TMECH.2010.2090165)
- Roccabianca, S., Bigoni, D. and Gei, M. 2011. Long wavelength bifurcations and multiple neutral axes of elastic layered structures subject to finite bending. Journal of Mechanics of Materials and Structures 6(1-4), pp. 511-527. (10.2140/jomms.2011.6.511)
- Bertoldi, K. and Gei, M. 2011. Instabilities in multilayered soft dielectrics. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 59(1), pp. 18-42. (10.1016/j.jmps.2010.10.001)
2010
- Gei, M. 2010. Wave propagation in quasiperiodic structures: stop/pass band distribution and prestress effects. International Journal of Solids and Structures 47(22-23), pp. 3067-3075. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2010.07.008)
- Roccabianca, S., Gei, M. and Bigoni, D. 2010. Plane strain bifurcations of elastic layered structures subject to finite bending: theory versus experiments. Ima Journal of Applied Mathematics 75(4), pp. 525-548. (10.1093/imamat/hxq020)
- Gei, M.et al. 2010. Microscopic and macroscopic instabilities in dielectric composite actuators. Presented at: Actuator 10: International Conference and Exhibition on New Actuators and Drive Systems, Bremen, Germany, 14-16 June 2010Actuator 10: International Conference and Exhibition on New Actuators and Drive Systems. pp. 838-841.
2009
- Gei, M., Movchan, A. B. and Jones, I. S. 2009. Junction conditions for cracked elastic thin solids under bending and shear. Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics 62(4), pp. 481-493. (10.1093/qjmam/hbp017)
- Gei, M., Movchan, A. B. and Bigoni, D. 2009. Band-gap shift and defect-induced annihilation in prestressed elastic structures. Journal of Applied Physics 105(6), article number: 63507. (10.1063/1.3093694)
- Colli, S., Gei, M. and Bigoni, D. 2009. A boundary element formulation for incremental nonlinear elastic deformation of compressible solids. Computer Modeling in Engineering and Science 40(1), pp. 29-62. (10.3970/cmes.2009.040.029)
2008
- Bigoni, D., Gei, M. and Movchan, A. B. 2008. Dynamics of a prestressed stiff layer on an elastic half space: filtering and band gap characteristics of periodic structural models derived from long-wave asymptotics. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 56(7), pp. 2494-2520. (10.1016/j.jmps.2008.02.007)
- Gei, M. 2008. Elastic waves guided by a material interface. European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids 27(3), pp. 328-345. (10.1016/j.euromechsol.2007.10.002)
- Bigoni, D., Dal Corso, F. and Gei, M. 2008. The stress concentration near a rigid line inclusion in a prestressed, elastic material. Part II. Implications on shear band nucleation, growth and energy release rate. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 56(3), pp. 839-857. (10.1016/j.jmps.2007.07.003)
- Dal Corso, F., Bigoni, D. and Gei, M. 2008. The stress concentration near a rigid line inclusion in a prestressed, elastic material. Part I. Full-field solution and asymptotics. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 56(3), pp. 815-838. (10.1016/j.jmps.2007.07.002)
2006
- Gei, M. and Magnarelli, L. 2006. The role of multifield theories in the modelling of active materials. Presented at: Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), San Diego, CA, USA, 26 February 2006 Presented at Bar-Cohen, Y. ed.Proc. SPIE 6168, Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), Vol. 6168. SPIE pp. J1680-J1680., (10.1117/12.658787)
- Gei, M., Rovati, M. and Veber, D. 2006. Effect of internal length scale on optimal topologies for cosserat continua. In: Bendsøe, M. P., Olhoff, N. and Sigmund, O. eds. IUTAM Symposium on Topological Design Optimization of Structures, Machines and Materials., Vol. 137. Springer, pp. 157-166., (10.1007/1-4020-4752-5_16)
2004
- Radi, E. and Gei, M. 2004. Mode III crack growth in linear hardening materials with strain gradient effects. International Journal of Fracture 130(4), pp. 765-785. (10.1007/s10704-004-2549-8)
- Gei, M., Bigoni, D. and Franceschini, G. 2004. Thermoelastic small-amplitude wave propagation in nonlinear elastic multilayers. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 9(5), pp. 555-568. (10.1177/1081286504038675)
- Gei, M., Bigoni, D. and Guicciardi, S. 2004. Failure of silicon nitride under uniaxial compression at high temperature. Mechanics of Materials 36(4), pp. 335-345. (10.1016/S0167-6636(03)00063-2)
2002
- Gei, M. and Ogden, R. W. 2002. Vibration of a surface-coated elastic block subject to bending. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 7(6), pp. 607-628. (10.1177/108128602029657)
- Gei, M., Genna, F. and Bigoni, D. 2002. An interface model for the periodontal ligament. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 124(5), pp. 538-546. (10.1115/1.1502664)
2001
- Bigoni, D. and Gei, M. 2001. Bifurcations of a coated, elastic cylinder. International Journal of Solids and Structures 38(30-31), pp. 5117-5148. (10.1016/S0020-7683(00)00322-X)
Teaching
Solid Mechanics
Renewable Energy Design
Structural Mechanics
Advanced Structural Mechanics
Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Contracts
ANSYRETRO - Innovative anchoring system for retrofitting heritage buildings (ASTUTE 2020 research project in cooperation with the company CINTEC International Ltd., 2019)
Bioactuation in Soft Robotics - RAEng Distinguished Research Fellowship of Prof. Luis Dorfmann (Tufts University) (one-onth visit, 2018).
SRENASM - Simulation of Radiation Effects on Nuclear and Aerospace Structural Materials. Marie Curie Cofund project of Dr. Omid Noorikalkhoran (3 year fellowship, 2017-2020) (£ 160000).
MeDyQuaM - Mechanics and Dynamical Processes in Quasiperiodic Materials. Marie Curie Cofund project of Dr. Lorenzo Morini (3 year fellowship, 2016-2019) (£ 150000).
ANCHOR-SYS - Manufacturing Process Development for Innovative Anchoring and Reinforcement Systems (ASTUTE 2020 research project in cooperation with the company CINTEC International Ltd., 2017) (£ 120000).
Supervised Students
Z. Chen - Canonical metamaterials, 2019-2022
A. Farhat - Quasicrystalline metamaterials, 2019-2022
M.E. Kanik - Safety in nuclear power plants, 2019-2022
V. Roussel - Instability of structured thin films, 2019
P. Liguori - Soft dielectric actuator, 2018-2021
G. Tetik - Quasicrystalline metamaterials, 2018
V. Volpini - Energy harvesting with soft dielectric composites, 2018
K. Mutasa - Advanced electroactive soft material devices, 2016-2017
Y. Eyzat - Negative refraction in laminates, 2017
L. Calabrese - Innovative dielectric elastomer soft robots, 2015-2018
C. Rodrigo Rodriguez - Moving loads in structured bridges, 2016
E. Bortot - Performance optimization of dielectric elastomer generators, 2012-2015
S. Colonnelli - Instability of soft dielectric actuators, 2011-2014
S. Roccabianca - Structures under large bending: finite solution and bifurcation analysis, 2011-2014