Andrea Manes

Andrea Manes was born in La Spezia in 1976. He obtained a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Systems Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano. He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His main research topics include structural engineering, mechanical behaviour of materials, and design of components and systems under extreme loading conditions, with a focus on impact engineering. He has actively participated in several EDF, EDA, national, and industrial projects. He has published over 230 articles (H-index 38 - source Scopus), mainly in international journals and conferences. He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Impact Engineering. He has been a Visiting Professor at Tongji University, Shanghai (China), within the POLITONG Fellowship (2013), and a Visiting Scientist at N.T.N.U. - SIMLab, Trondheim (Norway, 2008-2009). He is a member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering board and serves as delegate for "Communication".

1. Numerical study on the dynamic progressive failure due to low-velocity repeated impacts in thin CFRP laminated composite plates

   M. Rezasefat, A. Gonzalez-Jimenez, M. Giglio, A. Manes

   Thin-Walled Structures 167, 108220 · 2021

2. FE coupled to SPH numerical model for the simulation of high-velocity impact on ceramic based ballistic shields

   R. Scazzosi, M. Giglio, A. Manes

   Ceramics International 46(15), 23760-23772 · 2020

3. Ballistic strain-rate-dependent material modelling of glass-fibre woven composite based on the prediction of a meso-heterogeneous approach

   D. Ma, A. Manes, S.C. Amico, M. Giglio

   Composite Structures 216, 187-200 · 2019

4. Experimental tests and numerical modelling of ballistic impacts against Kevlar 29 plain-woven fabrics with an epoxy matrix: Macro-homogeneous and Meso-heterogeneous approaches

   L.M. Bresciani, A. Manes, A. Ruggiero, G. Iannitti, M. Giglio

   Composites Part B: Engineering 88, 114-130 · 2016

5. Predicting ballistic impact failure of aluminium 6061-T6 with the rate-independent Bao-Wierzbicki fracture model

   A. Gilioli, A. Manes, M. Giglio, T. Wierzbicki

   International Journal of Impact Engineering 76, 207-220 · 2015

1. Shape sensing and damage detection of composite pressure vessels using inverse finite element method coupled with physics-based strain pre-extrapolation

   J. Bardiani, R. Faure Ragani, L. Pinello, A. Kefal, A. Manes, C. Sbarufatti

   Thin-Walled Structures, 218, 113935 · 2026

2. Numerical model of curved composite tiles under low-velocity impact loading

   S. Rezaei Akbarieh, D. Ma, C. Sbarufatti, A. Manes

   Journal of Composite Materials · 2025

3. A hybrid approach to enhance decision-making in marine structures: Combining sensor data with human perception

   J. Bardiani, C. Mazzolatti, A. Manes, C. Sbarufatti

   Results in Engineering, 27, 105670 · 2025

4. On the effectiveness of ABH-based metamaterials in vibration control of naval equipment subjected to underwater explosion loads

   J. Bardiani, G. Kyaw Oo D’Amore, G. Marchesi, M. Biot, C. Sbarufatti, A. Manes

   Results in Engineering, 27, 106117 · 2025

5. Modeling approaches for ballistic simulations of composite materials: Analytical model vs. finite element method

   D. Ma, R. Scazzosi, A. Manes

   Composites Science and Technology, 248, 110461 · 2024

6. Enhancing Lamb wave-based damage diagnosis in composite materials using a pseudo-damage boosted convolutional neural network approach

   A. Gonzalez-Jimenez, L. Lomazzi, R. Junges, M. Giglio, A. Manes, F. Cadini

   Structural Health Monitoring, 23(3), 1514-1529 · 2024

7. Analytical and empirical methods for the characterisation of the permanent transverse displacement of quadrangular metal plates subjected to blast load: Comparison of existing methods and development of a novel methodological approach

   L. Lomazzi, M. Giglio, A. Manes

   International Journal of Impact Engineering, 154, 103890 · 2021

All group publications

• Lecturer

  Impact Engineering

  MSc Mechanical Engineering · 5 CFU · 1st semester · Milano Bovisa

  Course sheet

• Lecturer

  Machine Design

  MSc Mechanical Engineering · 5 CFU · 2nd semester · Milano Bovisa

  Course sheet

• Lecturer

  Machine Design

  BSc Biomedical Engineering; MSc Nuclear Engineering; MSc Biomedical Engineering; MSc Automation and Control Engineering; MSc Engineering Physics; MSc Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology · 5 CFU · 2nd semester · Milano Leonardo

  Course sheet

• Lecturer

  Machine Design

  MSc Aeronautical Engineering · 6 CFU · 2nd semester · Milano Bovisa

  Course sheet

Courses of 2026/2027, from the Politecnico’s course sheets. All the group’s courses

• AIMachine LearningImpact & BallisticsNumerical Modelling

  Machine learning for ballistic-limit prediction in multilayer protections

  The design of ballistic protection systems for ground vehicles requires fast and reliable tools to assess the ability of multilayer configurations to stop high-velocity projectiles. Experimental campaigns and high-fidelity simulations are accurate but expensive and time-consuming, while the design space is extremely large. Machine learning models trained on numerical simulation databases can provide rapid predictions of ballistic performance and support early-stage design decisions.

  Details and apply
• Impact & BallisticsCompositesNumerical Modelling

  High-fidelity simulation of pristine and damaged ceramic/composite armor under ballistic impact

  Modern body armor combines low weight with high stopping power thanks to ceramic and composite plates. Yet micro-cracks from everyday bumps or aging can weaken a panel before the next high-velocity hit. Virtual testing that predicts this residual strength is key to life-cycle optimization and safe re-use.

  Details and apply
• MaterialsExperimental

  Development and Validation of Advanced Joining Techniques for Titanium-Steel Hybrid Structures in High-Performance Mechanical Applications

  Development of an innovative product featuring a titanium frame, with a weld joint between the titanium frame and specific steel components. This requirement introduces considerable complexity, as titanium and steel are dissimilar materials with significantly different physical, chemical, and metallurgical properties.

  Details and apply
• Impact & BallisticsEngines

  Development and Validation of methods to increase survivability of gas turbine engine

  Gas turbines are foundational to energy systems and transport capabilities, integrating high-power density with design flexibility. Gas Turbine are also widespread in highly demanding operational domain.

  Details and apply
• BlastNumerical ModellingNaval

  Predictive Numerical Modelling of Underwater Explosions (UNDEX) on Structures

  Many studies have been performed for air-blast scenarios, while readily available numerical frameworks for underwater explosions (UNDEX) are still limited due to the increased complexity associated with shockwave propagation, gas bubble dynamics and fluid-structure interaction phenomena. The development of reliable predictive tools is therefore crucial for the assessment and design of resilient naval platforms and onboard systems.

  Details and apply
• Impact & BallisticsMaterialsNumerical Modelling

  Numerical approaches for modelling the ballistic impact onto metallic and ceramic protections

  Evolving threat capabilities require an update of protective structures. Ballistic grade steels and ceramic armours have been developed in the last decades to increase the safety level of the platforms they are installed on. This thesis aims to build high-fidelity models of such protections under dynamical loading at high strain rates

  Details and apply
• BlastCompositesNumerical Modelling

  Prediction of structural response under confined explosions in composite panels

  Accurate modelling of confined explosions is essential to predict the response of structures under internal blast loading.

  Details and apply
• BlastNumerical Modelling

  Predictive modelling of buried charge effects

  Many studies have addressed air-blast and underwater explosions, but buried charges represent an intermediate and less explored configuration, where soil confinement strongly affects the pressure transmission and impulse duration. Accurate prediction tools are essential for assessing the response of structures and protective systems under these loading conditions.

  Details and apply
• BlastFatigue & FractureNumerical Modelling

  Development of numerical models to capture the failure modes of blast-loaded metallic plates

  Blast loading is a critical extreme condition that can trigger complex failure modes in structural plates. Due to the difficulty of capturing detailed experimental data during such events, numerical modelling plays a key role in understanding and predicting structural response. This thesis will focus on developing advanced numerical tools to simulate failure mechanisms using experimental data for calibration/validation.

  Details and apply
• BlastNumerical Modelling

  Rapid prediction of fluid-structure interaction in blast-loaded plates

  Accurate estimation of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effects is crucial for predicting the response of lightweight metallic plates subjected to air blasts. Despite numerous studies, understanding and predicting these coupling phenomena remains a challenge. Developing simplified yet reliable predictive tools enables both efficient high-fidelity simulations and the design of blast-mitigation solutions.

  Details and apply
• Impact & BallisticsCompositesExperimentalNumerical Modelling

  Experimental characterization and multiscale modelling on composite materials under impact loading

  Composite materials are believed to have outstanding mechanical properties, especially for impact resistance. However, as development of composites, different technologies have been applied for advanced composites, leading to some critical challenges:

  Details and apply
• MaterialsExperimental

  Mechanical and thermal characterization of polymer materials

  Polymer materials, such as polycarbonate, are widely applied. During deformation, their mechanical behaviours are always coupled with heating to release extra work, especially with high-speed loading. So, understanding the phenomenon is of great importance for modelling.

  Details and apply
• Impact & BallisticsCompositesNumerical Modelling

  Modelling of curved composite structures and optimization for impact resistance

  As the composites developed, they have been widely applied into structures considering their mechanical properties, such as composite pressure vessels, which are always facing the impact loading. The critical mechanism of curved structure is the elastic deformation from structural level, while the damage introduced by impact may cause a nonlinear recover after impact, influencing the overall performance.

  Details and apply
• SHMDigital TwinsiFEMBlastNumerical Modelling

  Displacement Field Reconstruction Using the nonlinear iFEM Methodology under extreme loading conditions

  Most structures operate in the linear-elastic range under normal service loads, where small-deformation assumptions hold. Under extreme loading (e.g., air-blast events), the response can become nonlinear (geometric and/or material), requiring methods that remain reliable beyond linear models. Building on strain data, this research aims to develop nonlinear iFEM techniques to reconstruct full-field displacements and identify damage under extreme loading conditions and geometric nonlinear cases.

  Details and apply

All thesis topics