On Friday, 18 July 2025, the Cambridge Graphene Centre welcomed Professor Alessandro Reali from the University of Pavia as part of the ongoing QAMSS SRI Advanced Technology Lecture Series for Easter Term.
In his lecture titled Simulation of Complex and Coupled (Bio)Engineering Problems via Isogeometric Analysis, Prof. Reali introduced Isogeometric Analysis (IGA), a simulation framework originally developed to bridge Computational Mechanics and Computer-Aided Design. Thanks to its high-regularity basis functions, IGA offers increased accuracy and robustness over standard finite element methods, with applications spanning from solids and fluids to coupled multi-physics problems.
Prof. Reali highlighted recent advances in IGA with a focus on real-world structural applications, including:
Fluid-structure interaction modelling (e.g., aortic valves)
Mechanically-induced stress effects on prostate cancer growth
Thermo-mechanical simulations for additive manufacturing
Electro-mechanical simulations in biological tissues
Phase-field modelling for fracture and complex material behaviours
The session attracted researchers, PhD students, and academic staff from across the QAMSS community, contributing to lively discussions about the future use of IGA in engineering and biomedical fields.
The QAMSS Easter Term lecture series runs every Friday until 8 August 2025, providing an ongoing platform for sharing knowledge at the intersection of quantum and advanced materials research and wider scientific challenges. We thank Prof. Reali for his valuable contribution and look forward to continuing the series in the coming weeks.
