Americo Cunha | Research Staff Member at Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) and an Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Brazil
September 1, 2025 | 13h30-14h00 | Hybrid mode (room k3 or link) | Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
Abstract: The efficient mitigation of vibrations and the sustainable generation of energy are pressing challenges in modern engineering. In this seminar, we present recent advances on a novel nonlinear metabeam concept, designed to combine vibration absorption and energy harvesting within a single multifunctional structure. By integrating geometric nonlinearities with piezoelectric transduction, the metabeam exhibits rich dynamical behaviors—such as bistability and internal resonances—that can be strategically exploited to broaden the operational frequency range and enhance performance. Experimental and numerical analyses reveal how the beam's architecture can be tailored to achieve both effective vibration suppression and robust electrical power generation. The results not only demonstrate the feasibility of this multifunctional design but also highlight promising pathways toward next-generation smart structures, with applications in aerospace, civil, and mechanical systems where energy autonomy and vibration control are critical.
Short Bio: Americo Cunha Jr is a Research Staff Member at Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) and an Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). He serves on the editorial boards of the ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, the Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies, and PLOS ONE, and maintains active collaborations with research groups in Europe and the United States. His research explores nonlinear dynamics, uncertainty quantification, and data-driven modeling, with applications ranging from vibration energy harvesting and origami-inspired metamaterials to epidemic forecasting. He is the recipient of the 2023 ABMEC (Brazilian Association of Computational Methods in Engineering) Prize for Young Scientists and has held visiting appointments at Princeton University, Georgia Tech, Université Paris-Est, and the University of Trento, among others. He regularly presents his work at international conferences and has delivered invited lectures at universities worldwide.