MMS Lab

The “Mechanics of Materials and Structures” Laboratory (MMS Lab) of ISTI-CNR carries out research, software development and consulting in the field of continuum mechanics, with particular focus on structural engineering. The main research topics are:

Computational solid mechanics

Development of mathematical models, numerical methods and software for modelling the thermo-mechanical behaviour of solids with a view toward engineering applications. The models studied and the algorithms formulated have been implemented in the finite element code for nonlinear analyses NOSA, entirely developed by the members of the Laboratory. The NOSA code has been successfully applied to a number of engineering problems.

Mechanics of masonry structures

Development of mechanical models and software for the structural analysis of ancient masonry constructions. In particular, the NOSA-ITACA code, entirely developed by our team, allows for modelling the nonlinear behaviour of masonry constructions under static and dynamic loads while taking into account the material’s inability to withstand tensile stresses.

Structural health monitoring of historic buildings

Structural monitoring of historical buildings through sensor networks and numerical tools for the dynamic identification of the structures.

MMS Lab has the following equipment:

velo

n. 3 SS45 triaxial velocimeters coupled with a 24-bit digitizer (SL06)

n. 1 SS20 triaxial velocimeter coupled with a 24-bit digitizer (SL06)

n.1 SA-10 triaxial force balance accelerometer coupled with a 24-bit digitizer (SL06)

shake
n.2 shakebot mems accelerometers
MFG_SEN0148

 

n.1 thermo-hygrometer connected to a 24-bit digitizer (SL06)

server
 

a server hosted at ISTI-CNR to storage and process data recorded by the instruments installed on the monument

 All the velocimeters, accelerometers and digitizers are produced by SARA electronic instruments s.r.l (https://www.sara.pg.it/).

People

Maria GirardiMaria Girardi
Research Staff
Maria Giovanna Masciotta
University of Chieti-Pescara, Research associate
Cristina PadovaniCristina Padovani
Research Staff, head of  MMS Lab
Margherita PorcelliMargherita Porcelli
University of Bologna, Research associate
Daniele PellegriniDaniele Pellegrini
Research Staff
Leonardo RobolLeonardo Robol
University of Pisa, Research associate