The course is divided into two main parts:
• the first theoretical and classical is essentially based on continuum mechanics theory and it also includes elements of fracture mechanics;
• the second, more applicative and related to frontier research, is directed to the theoretical, numerical and experimental study of bio- and / or nano-structures.

Theoretical and experimental analysis of organic and biocompatible, bio-inspired, nano-structured structures and / or materials.

Theoretical and experimental analysis of organic and biocompatible, bio-inspired, nano-structured structures and / or materials.

GENERAL PART
• Fundamentals of stress and strain analysis: static-kinematic duality and the principle of virtual works. Elasticity theory. Constitutive laws for isotropic / anisotropic, homogeneous / heterogeneous materials. Energy theorems. Strength criteria.
• Plain stress and strain states. Airy’s functions. Formulation in Cartesian and Polar coordinates. Application examples: high thickness cylindrical tube, force on semiplane, plate with circular hole. Stress Concentration Factor.
• V notch and Williams’ Solution. Stress singularity and stress and factor intensity factor Fundamentals of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics.
• Recalls on beam theory. Isostatic and hyperstatic beam systems.
• Plane and curved shells
SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS
During scientific seminars, specialty topics are discussed in the biomedical area thanks to the contribution of specialists in the field. Subjects may vary from year to year, including, but not limited to, problems related to knee prosthesis, hand suture techniques, organ and body modeling, diagnostics by biological signal analysis, experimentation on bio-inspired materials, etc.

The course is organized into a general section of theoretical frontal lessons, supported by exercise classes, and a second part of scientific seminars, laboratory classes, and study visits at an external research institute. The topics of the scientific seminars are further developed by students, divided into working groups, to create reports (in the form of a scientific article or research project) that are presented during the exam for evaluation.

• Carpinteri, Scienza delle costruzioni, Vol. 1, 2a ed., Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, 1995
• Carpinteri, Scienza delle costruzioni, Vol. 2, 2a ed., Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, 1993
• S.P. Timoshenko and S. Woinowsky-Krieger, Theory of Plates and Shells, McGraw-Hill, 1970
• S.P. Timoshenko and J.N. Goodier, Theory of elasticity, McGraw-Hill, 1982.
• Supporting material available through the Teaching Portal

The exam consists of two phases:
• A written exam on topics related to the general part (two-tier evaluation: achieved/ not achieved);
• an oral presentation of the research work on the topics of the seminars (evaluation in thirtieth, based on acquired skills and demonstration of research autonomy)