EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM
Prof. Leonardo BERTINI graduated with honors in Nuclear Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pisa on July 28, 1980.
In the period immediately following his graduation, he worked for approximately three years as an engineer in the technical offices of two national companies operating in the mechanical sector: Nuovo Pignone of Florence (from December 1980 to September 1981) and Costruzioni Metalliche FINSIDER (CMF) of Livorno (from September 1981 to February 1984).
During his time at Nuovo Pignone, Professor Bertini focused primarily on issues related to the structural integrity of certain steam turbine components, with a particular focus on vibrations in low-pressure stages and failures caused by corrosion-fatigue phenomena. At CMF, a company specializing in the construction of large-scale metal structures, Professor Bertini focused on Computer Aided Engineering, developing, among other things, a program dedicated to automating the design of power line pylons.
From March 1984 to November 1986, Prof. Bertini attended the PhD course in “Mechanics of Materials”, carrying out research in the field of corrosion-fatigue of structural steels in marine environments.
In 1988, he joined the tenured faculty of the University of Pisa, where he held the position of Associate Professor in the “Mechanical Design and Machine Construction” department from November 1, 1992, to December 31, 1999. On January 1, 2000, he became a Full Professor in the same department, and his tenure was confirmed in June 2003.
INSTITUTIONAL TASKS
From 2000 to 2002, he served as Vice President of the Degree Program Council in Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pisa. In this role, he was actively involved in organizing the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs in Mechanical Engineering, in accordance with the new regulations established by the Ministry of Universities.
Since January 2003 he has been President of the Degree Course Council in Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Pisa.
From June 29, 2005 to February 2, 2009, he served as Director of the Leonardo da Vinci Doctoral School in Engineering at the University of Pisa.
From 2 February 2009 to 31/10 2012 he was Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Pisa ,
For several years he served as an expert and then full member of the Patent Commission of the University of Pisa.
From 1/11/2016 to 31/10/2022 he was the Rector’s Delegate of the University of Pisa for the promotion of spin-offs, start-ups and patents (in this capacity he was the creator and main organizer of the “Contamination Lab” of the University of Pisa, a body responsible for organizing educational activities and supporting and promoting and developing entrepreneurial initiatives by University professors and students, which led, in the period 2018-2022, to the creation of 12 new business projects).
From 1993 to 2000 he was part of the Board of Directors of the Italian Association for Stress Analysis , currently a Scientific Society operating in the field of Mechanical Design and Machine Construction, also carrying out from 1993 to 1997, the functions of Administrative Secretary and Treasurer . From 1998 to 2003 he was appointed auditor . Finally, from 2005 to 2007, he was President of the same association.
SCIENTIFIC CURRICULUM
Since joining the University of Pisa in 1984, Professor Bertini has been involved in numerous research programs funded by public and private institutions, some of which were highly complex and required the coordination of large and diverse working groups and the organization of particularly complex experimental and theoretical activities.
This theoretical and applied research activity has very often been carried out in collaboration with leading national and international companies , in order not to lose sight of the applicative aspects and those related to technology transfer, but, rather, using these collaborations precisely to identify those aspects of basic research most requiring scientific and theoretical development.
Prof. Bertini has been a member of the Scientific Committee of numerous National and International Conferences and has acted as a “referee” for numerous international journals of great importance, including: Engineering Fracture Mechanics, International Journal of Fatigue, Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures, Composites and Structures and numerous journals related to ASME.
He has been a member of the Italian Scientists Association (ISA) since its foundation.
Prof. Leonardo BERTINI has always been possessed the necessary requirements to participate in the judging commissions for the achievement of the National Scientific Qualification (ASN), since the first application, and has always submitted an application, despite never having been drawn.
The following illustrates the main sectors in which it has operated and the most significant results achieved.
Mechanics of materials
High temperature fatigue and creep
Studies in this area have focused on characterizing the creep-fatigue interaction phenomenon and qualifying the related analysis techniques and forecasting models. Regarding the latter aspect, the influence of complex load histories and/or multiaxial stresses has been studied in particular, contributing to the qualification of reliable analysis techniques for design purposes.
Research activities in this sector have been conducted in collaboration with Italian and foreign research institutions and scientific committees (ENEA, EC Working Groups on “Codes and Standard” AG 2 and AGT 9B)
Fatigue in corrosive environments
Professor Bertini has conducted extensive theoretical and experimental work on the behavior of structural steels under fatigue-corrosion conditions. His research has focused in particular on the rate of fatigue crack propagation in marine environments, under various cathodic protection conditions (steels for offshore applications), and in operating environments typical of geothermal applications (steels for drill strings).
The activities in this sector were conducted in collaboration with companies such as Enel and Tecnomare and included, among other things, participation in a European project “Thermie” in collaboration with University College London.
Fracture mechanics
In this field, research work has been carried out mainly in the theoretical-mathematical sector of “Weight Functions” (WF), for the determination of which a new approach has been proposed based on the use of a particular property of the WFs themselves, which requires significantly reduced computational costs compared to traditional techniques.
A result of significant scientific and applicative interest was the demonstration that the WF allows an accurate evaluation of the complete stress state (including non-singular terms) in front of the defect tip.
The ability of WFs to correctly predict the effect of self-tension fields on the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) has been demonstrated, also with experimental applications.
WFs have been developed for some cases of significant interest, including the semi-elliptical superficial crack subjected to very general stress states and the inclined superficial crack, demonstrating their usability also for the solution of nonlinear problems (contact between the fracture surfaces).
Finally, a completely innovative technique has been proposed for the use of WFs in predicting the maximum internal pressure applicable inside a pressurized vessel based on “Metal to metal” sealing systems, before producing fluid leaks.
Composite materials
In this sector, studies have been conducted aimed at characterizing the damage mechanisms of the material, with particular reference to those operating in the presence of cyclic loads (delaminations), and at developing prediction tools based on the use of 3-D nonlinear models based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) for the evaluation of Fracture Mechanics parameters.
Hydrogen embrittlement
Studies have been conducted to characterize the influence of some relevant parameters (chemical composition, heat treatment, multiaxiality of the stress state, presence of notches) on the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement of some classes of low-activation steels proposed for the construction of the first wall of future fusion reactors.
Innovative testing techniques have also been developed, based on the use of hollow specimens internally pressurized with hydrogen through the release of hydrogen from hydrides, which have allowed tests to be conducted in the presence of very high hydrogen concentrations and high temperatures. This type of test was among the precursors of the now widely used technique for studying the interaction between hydrogen and metallic materials, based on hollow specimens.
Sintered materials
Studies have been conducted on the mechanical behavior of sintered steels, analyzing the effect of porosity, the mechanical characteristics of the material constituting the powders and the presence of different types of notches, and arriving at the proposal of a specific empirical law correlating fracture ductility with the degree of multiaxiality.
Ceramic coatings
In this area, a complex experimental activity has been conducted, aimed at developing reliable techniques for measuring the main mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, thermal expansion coefficient) of ceramic coatings. The developed measurement techniques have then been used for the characterization of two-layer coatings (bond coat + top coat) on nickel superalloy substrate intended for use in the gas turbine field.
Additive Manufacturing
In this field, Prof. Bertini was the creator and organizer of one of the first Italian experimental university laboratories for the study of Additive Manufacturing processes of metallic materials.
In addition to conducting experimental campaigns on the static and fatigue properties of materials obtained through this innovative technique, he focused his attention on simulating the manufacturing process.
In this sector, together with his working group, he has developed an integrated “multilevel” technique, based on the coordinated use of analytical methods and FEM to treat the different levels of the process, from the microscopic level to that of the final component, in order to allow the prediction of the effect of the different process parameters on the mechanical properties, distortions and distribution of residual stresses.
Fatigue strength of welded joints
In collaboration with the railway and automotive industries, extensive experimental studies have been conducted on the fatigue behavior of welded joints, ranging in size from a few millimeters (laser welds on injectors) to tens of centimeters (welds on railway bogies and suspension arms). The primary goal of these studies was to develop and qualify techniques for predicting the fatigue life of welded joints in full-scale mechanical components, based on experimental qualification and FEM tools.
Experimental methods
Residual stresses
As regards residual stresses (or self-stresses), research activities have been oriented towards the development of new measurement techniques and the analysis of their effects on the propagation of fatigue cracks.
A hybrid destructive technique has been developed, based on strain gauge measurements and influence coefficients obtained through FEM models, which allows a complete estimate of the self-stress fields present inside mechanical components, even large ones.
Furthermore, two important extensions of the semi-destructive technique called “hole drilling (blind or through)” have been developed, which allow the measurement of residual stresses having very high values (up to 90% of the yield stress) or varying in thickness.
To this end, influence functions have been developed for the first time that provide in analytical form, as a function of the distance from the surface, the relationship between the local value of the equibiaxial and shear components of the self-stress state and the corresponding readings provided by a classical three-strain gauge rosette.
Full-field techniques
An automated version of the lattice method for measuring deformations in two-dimensional problems has been developed, based on the use of image acquisition and processing systems.
Modal analysis
An innovative test station has been developed and fine-tuned for fully automated, computer-controlled modal analysis of full-scale components (experimental determination of eigenmodes and their associated mode shapes). The system is based on a robotic arm and a non-contact vibration measurement system (laser Doppler velocimeter).
The system was used to determine the modal properties of centrifugal compressor impellers.
Characterization of mechanical properties through unconventional tests
Studies in this sector have concerned the development of techniques for determining the s-e curve of metallic materials, to be used in cases where it is not possible to resort to the classic tensile test (e.g. material available only in very small quantities (as in the case of specimens subjected to irradiation in accelerators), mechanical properties that vary greatly from point to point (as in the case of welded joints, in-line non-destructive testing, etc.).
has been developed that allows, based on the results of an instrumented spherical indentation test, to derive the s-e curve of the material, including the elastic-plastic portion, with good precision. The technique is based on the results of a series of accurate FEM numerical simulations of the indentation test, conducted using a wide range of material properties. Starting from these results, it was possible to develop an iterative technique that allows the s-e curve to be determined with satisfactory accuracy , through the comparison between the experimental indentation curve and those simulated using FEM.
Analysis of full-scale structures and components
Using laboratory results on specimens to predict the in-service behavior of full-scale mechanical components is, as one might imagine, a challenging objective, subject to considerable uncertainty. For this reason, Professor Bertini has conducted numerous studies aimed at defining the best techniques for predicting the in-service behavior of full-scale components.
Oil drilling batteries
Original “resonance” testing machines have been developed, which have proven to be very efficient and accurate, capable of testing elements of full-scale oil drilling strings (Drill Collars and Drill Pipes) under conditions similar to those in operation.
This has allowed us to conduct numerous test campaigns, in collaboration with important companies in the Italian (ENI) and foreign (Germany, Japan) oil sectors.
The experimental activities were accompanied by the development of numerical models that allowed a redefinition of the geometry of the component joints in order to optimize their fatigue resistance.
Suspension arms for scooters
Theoretical and experimental research was conducted to qualify procedures for predicting the fatigue strength of die-cast aluminum suspension arms for automotive applications. Tests were conducted on both small samples and full-scale parts, correlating the results using nonlinear FEM models and demonstrating the models’ ability to correctly predict the failure location of the full-scale component under various combinations of bending and torsional loads.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
An extensive experimental campaign was conducted, by setting up a specific test bench, to study the behaviour of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), widely used on scooters and mopeds, and based on a V-belt and expandable pulleys.
The study aimed to characterize the dependence of the energy efficiency of CVT transmissions on the operating conditions and on the characteristics of the transmission belt and pulleys.
Again, the study included both full-scale tests and laboratory tests on the components and led to an original analytical model for predicting energy performance.
TEACHING CURRICULUM
Professor Leonardo BERTINI taught numerous courses at the University of Pisa, in the academic years 1992 to 2026, within his research area for the degree programs in Mechanical, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering. He also taught the course “Machine Construction” for the degree program in Materials Engineering at the University of Trento from 1993 to 2000.
During the same period he was supervisor of numerous degree and PhD theses.
He was also a member of the Teaching Boards of the PhD Courses in Mechanical Engineering and Land Vehicle Engineering at the University of Pisa.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
awards and recognitions for his scientific work and other contributions to the national and international scientific community :
- AIAS (Italian Association for Stress Analysis) Award for the year 1992, for the best paper presented at the National Congress
- AIAS Award for the year 2000 for the best work presented at the National Congress
- CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) Award 2010, awarded by the Editorial Board of the Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design for the best work published in the journal
- The 2016 SMAU Innovation Award was awarded to the University of Pisa spin-off company Letomec, together with Electrolux.
- CAE Conference Best Poster Award 2016
- AIAS Simulation Award 2017, for the best numerical simulation work presented at the National Congress
- AIAS Software Simulation Award 2019, for the best numerical simulation work presented at the National Congress
- “Order of the Cherub”, awarded by the University of Pisa, 2017
- Honorary Member of the Scientific Society Italian Association for Stress Analysis (AIAS) since 2025
- Some of the works on the hole-drilling method are cited in the various versions of the specific ASTM (American Society for Testing and materials) standard E837-20 “Standard Test Method for Determining Residual Stresses by the Hole-Drilling Strain-Gage Method”
- Emeritus Professor since june 16, 2026.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
As a result of his constant commitment to developing both the applied and theoretical aspects of his research, Prof. Leonardo Bertini has also contributed to the development of the following patents:
- Device for detecting the mechanical properties of materials, particularly metallic materials. TO2004A000535, registered in 2004, was subsequently acquired by Scienzia Machinale Srl, and expanded internationally in 2009 (US 7,480,575 B2).
- Helios: Innovative technique for the automated measurement of hydrogen content and its diffusion coefficient in materials and related measuring instrument, 2012, (belonging to the spin-off Letomec
- Scaling Method Based on a Pointwise Superposition Procedure and System thereof., N° 102020000017164, international, filed in 2020
- Flexural fatigue test rig in resonance with controlled support position tracking, No. 102023000020259, Italy, filed in 2022
In 2011, together with Professors Marco Beghini and Renzo Valentini, he founded the company Letomec, a spin-off of the University of Pisa, working in the field of the interaction between structural materials and hydrogen and in advanced technologies related to its use as an energy carrier.
PUBLICATIONS
Professor Bertini’s research activity has produced approximately 290 papers, published in international journals and/or presented at national and international conferences in the field.