Massimiliano Fraldi
National Research Council, University of Naples Federico II, École Normale Supérieure - PSL
Papers
5
Total Citations
62
H-Index
4
About
Massimiliano Fraldi is a leading figure in the mechanics of soft materials and biological structures, with a particular focus on how nonlinear elasticity governs stability, adhesion, and locomotion. His work bridges theoretical mechanics and experimental validation, offering deep insights into the behavior of living systems under mechanical loads. Fraldi’s most cited paper, “Buckling soft tensegrities: Fickle elasticity and configurational switching in living cells” (2018, 42 citations), introduces a groundbreaking framework for understanding how cells exploit tensegrity and buckling to switch configurations—a key mechanism in mechanobiology. He has also made notable contributions to the mechanics of dielectric elastomers, caterpillar locomotion, and the bifurcation of elastic rods, with recent work revealing bimodal buckling as a protective mechanism in human finger luxation (2023). His research on caterpillar locomotion (2025) is particularly timely, informing the design of bio-inspired micro-robots for navigating confined environments. With a growing citation record and a knack for uncovering counterintuitive phenomena—like tensile buckling in living structures—Fraldi is shaping the future of soft matter mechanics and bio-inspired engineering.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Competition between elasticity and adhesion in caterpillar locomotion5 citations · 2025
- 4
- 5Bimodal buckling governs human fingers’ luxation3 citations · 2023