Research Director at the Institute of Marine Engineering (INM) of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) since 2023, he carries out research in computational fluid dynamics and naval hydrodynamics. His research interests focus in particular on the development of numerical methods for high-Reynolds-number free-surface turbulent flows (RANS, LES, DES and hybrid RANS/LES and RANS/BEM methods), immersed-boundary techniques and high-performance computing. His current research centres on hull-propeller-rudder interaction for surface vessels and submarines, manoeuvrability and seakeeping, Large-Eddy Simulations of propellers and hydrokinetic turbines, high-speed planing hulls, and multi-fidelity optimisation approaches.
Education
He graduated in Aeronautical Engineering on 13 December 1993 with a mark of 110/110 from the Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", with a thesis entitled "Multigrid Methods for Compressible non Viscous Two-Dimensional Flows". In November 1994 he obtained the professional engineering qualification in Italy. On 12 May 1998 he received his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the Department of Mechanics and Aeronautics of the University of Rome "La Sapienza", with a thesis entitled "High-Order Methods for the Numerical Simulations of Viscous Compressible Flows".
Career
After working as a Faculty Research Assistant at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (November 1993 to December 1994), developing parallel solvers for compressible flows, he carried out research at the Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (Belgium), first as a Graduate Student Researcher (October-December 1994) and then as a Researcher (March-June 1995), developing a Navier-Stokes solver for three-dimensional hypersonic flows in axisymmetric geometry. Since 1 November 1997 he has worked at the CNR Institute of Marine Engineering (INM) in Rome, as Researcher (III level) until 31 December 2020 and as Senior Researcher (II level) from 1 January 2021. In July 2017 he obtained the National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor in "Aeronautical, Aerospace and Naval Engineering". Since 1 January 2023 he has been Research Director (I level) at CNR-INM.
Teaching
From 2003 to 2010 he was an adjunct professor at the University of Rome "La Sapienza", where he taught Numerical Analysis for the degree programmes in Mechanical Engineering (academic years 2003-2004 to 2007-2008) and Electrical and Energy Engineering (2005-2006), as well as Numerical Methods (2007-2008 and 2008-2009) and Programming and Numerical Methods (2009-2010) for the degree programme in Aerospace Engineering.
Since 2024 he has been an adjunct professor at the University of Bologna "Alma Mater Studiorum", where he teaches Naval Architecture (Ship Statics and Ship Dynamics modules) for the degree programme in Nautical Engineering.
Research
His research covers computational fluid dynamics, high-performance computing, Direct Numerical Simulation and Large-Eddy Simulation, using finite-difference, finite-volume and immersed-boundary methods for turbulent flows, with applications to surface vessels, submarines and propellers, manoeuvrability and seakeeping. Alongside numerical work, he carries out experimental activities in the towing tank.
He is the author of 82 articles in international scientific journals, including the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physics of Fluids, Journal of Fluids and Structures and Ocean Engineering, and of 17 contributions to books and monographs.
He has coordinated and led as principal investigator numerous national and international research projects, including:
SPHydA, "Submarine Hull/Rudder/Propeller Hydrodynamics Interaction and Hydroacoustics", European Defence Agency (2025-2029), as coordinator;
NOSTRUM, "Optimizing floating offshore wind turbines for use in the Mediterranean Sea", PRIN PNRR (2023-2025);
AUTOPLAN, "Automatic Navigation Assistance System for Planing and Semi-planing Crafts", MarTERA ERA-NET COFUND (2020-2023), as PI;
Morphing-Blades, "New-Concept Turbine Blades for Unsteady Load Mitigation", EPSRC (2021-2024), as Co-PI;
HOLISHIP, "Holistic Optimization of Ship Design and Operation for Life Cycle", Horizon 2020 (2016-2020), as PI;
FLOWIS, "Flow in Service", European Defence Agency (2016-2020), as Work Package leader;
VINMAC, "Innovative Integrated Industrial Ventilation System in Composite Materials", ERDF Regional Operational Programme, Lombardy Region (2016-2019), as PI;
RITMARE, "Italian Research for the Sea", MIUR Flagship Project (2012-2016), as Action and Operational Unit leader;
NICOP-CAT and NICOP-CAT2, US Office of Naval Research (2008-2011 and 2012-2016), as PI;
SUBMOTION II, "Submarine Coupled 6DoF Motions Including Boundary Effects", European Defence Agency (2010-2014), as PI;
DALIDA, "Development and Validation of Tools for the Prediction of Hydrodynamic Signatures", European Defence Agency (2007-2011), as PI.
He has also been PI of six high-performance computing projects awarded by PRACE and EuroHPC JU (HiLESProp, LESRudProp, wakehydroLES, WakePropRudd, LESTLP, PROPLES, from 2017 to 2023), totalling more than 200 million core hours on European systems (Marconi-KNL, Joliot-Curie, MareNostrum 4, Vega).
Scientific and editorial committees
He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Marine Science and Technology.
Member of technical committees of the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC): 24th, 25th and 26th Manoeuvring Committee (2002-2011), 27th Specialist Committee on CFD in Ship Hydrodynamics (2011-2014), 30th Specialist Committee on Combined CFD/EFD Methods (2021-2024) and 31st Propulsion Committee (2024-2027).
Member of the Applied Vehicle Technology working groups of the NATO Science and Technology Organization: AVT-183, AVT-216, AVT-253, AVT-280, AVT-301, AVT-392 and ET-175.
He serves as a reviewer for numerous international journals, including the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Fluids and Structures, Journal of Fluids Engineering, Computers and Fluids, Ocean Engineering, Applied Ocean Research, Journal of Ship Research and International Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering.
Other activities
He has been scientific lead on research contracts with industrial and academic clients, including Fluid Techno Co. Ltd (Japan, 2015-2018), the University of Michigan (2010-2014) and the Japan Institute of Sports Science (2011).
