MechE Colloquium: Elastic instabilities in soft hydraulics
Event details
| Date | 10.03.2026 |
| Hour | 12:00 › 13:00 |
| Speaker | Prof. Matteo Pezzulla, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract: The efficient redistribution and control of flow is essential in many biological and engineered systems, from the cardiovascular network to plants and soft robotic devices. A recurring strategy in Nature is the use of fluid–induced elastic deformations to passively regulate transport. In this talk, I will focus on fluid-induced elastic instabilities in soft hydraulic systems and their exploitation for passive flow control. I will present two prototype valves: one based on flow-driven buckling of slender beams and another exploiting snapping instabilities in thin spherical shells, where the instability is harnessed to achieve passive control. Using a combination of controlled desktop-scale experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical modeling, I will rationalize the underlying instability mechanisms and derive design rules based on scaling relationships among material, geometric, and fluid parameters.
Biography: Matteo works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Aarhus University, Denmark. His research explores soft hydraulics, with a focus on understanding fluid-induced elastic instabilities in natural and engineered systems. His work combines theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches, drawing from continuum mechanics and differential geometry. Previously, Matteo investigated the mechanics of slender structures and fluid-structure interactions during postdoctoral positions at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Boston University (BU). He earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Sapienza University of Rome in 2016.
Biography: Matteo works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Aarhus University, Denmark. His research explores soft hydraulics, with a focus on understanding fluid-induced elastic instabilities in natural and engineered systems. His work combines theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches, drawing from continuum mechanics and differential geometry. Previously, Matteo investigated the mechanics of slender structures and fluid-structure interactions during postdoctoral positions at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Boston University (BU). He earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Sapienza University of Rome in 2016.
Practical information
- General public
- Free