Marco Alfano, PhD

Marco Alfano is an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at University of Waterloo. His research covers the mechanics of solids and layered structures, such as composite materials and adhesive bonded joints. The interplay between manufacturing and structural performance is a highlight of Marco’s recent research work, which enjoys an even balance between analytical, computational and experimental methods in fracture mechanics. Marco is an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology (2015-), the International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives (2017-) and IOP Materials Research Express (2022-). He is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Materials (2022).

Marco leads dynamic training programs that enable students to undertake basic and industry-relevant analytical and experimental research. His students receive training in essential research areas, such as mechanics of materials, fracture mechanics (including modelling) and topics in adhesion science and technology. The students develop mastery of experimental and analytical methods and an appreciation for the limitations and potential of both avenues of research. Marco's research has been granted external funding from International and National Government bodies, such as the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

• Adhesive Bonding
• Deformation & Fracture
• Finite Element Modeling
• Mechanical Characterization
• Mechanics of interfaces & Adhesion
• Surface Modification of Metals and Composites

• 2007, Doctorate Materials and Structures, University of Calabria, Italy
• 2002, Laurea Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy

• Marco was awarded the Fulbright Research Scholarship in 2009. His research on modeling interfacial fracture with potential-based cohesive models was carried out at University of Illinois (Urbana)

• ME 322 - Mechanical Design 1
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• ME 559 - Finite Element Methods
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023
• ME 720 - Special Topics in Solid Mechanics
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Morano, C., Terasaki, N., Gao, T., Lubineau, G., Alfano, M., Snap-through Crack Propagation in Architected Bonded Interfaces Analyzed Using a Mechanoluminescent SAO/E Coating, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 15, 34, 40887–40897, 2023
• Tao R., Li X., Yudhanto A., Alfano M., and Lubineau G., Toughening adhesive joints through crack path engineering using integrated polyamide wires, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 106954, 158, 2022.
• Frascio M., Mandolfino C., Moroni F., Jilich M., Lagazzo A., Pizzorni M., Bergonzi L., Morano C., Alfano M., and Avalle M., Appraisal of surface preparation in adhesive bonding of additive manufactured substrates, International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 106, 2021.
• Morano C., Zavattieri P., and Alfano M., Tuning energy dissipation in damage tolerant bio-inspired interfaces, Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 127, 2020.
• Moghaddam, A.S., Alfano, M., Thermoelastic analysis of surface cracks in FGMs hollow cylinders using the interaction energy integral method, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 202, pp. 103-115, 2018.
• Canal, L.P., Alfano, M., Botsis, J., A multi-scale based cohesive zone model for the analysis of thickness scaling effect in fiber bridging, Composites Science and Technology, 139, pp. 90-98, 2017.