Friday, September 4

9:30-10:30 | Two Minds, One Question: A Meeting Between Leonardo da Vinci and Feynman in Mechanics

Antonina Pirrotta, Ph.D., P.E., F.EMI, F.ASCE 
Professor of Mechanics of Solids and Structures
Head of Ph.D. School of UNIPA, Engineering Department
L'Università degli Studi di Palermo

Abstract: Modeling and simulation are becoming increasingly important enablers for the analysis and design of complex systems. The connection between mathematics and reality is just experimental tests. The latter makes the difference between mathematical method and scientific method, that is experimental tests for validation is an important step of the scientific method. The scientific community generally agrees on the following classification of method components. 

• Characterizations 
• Hypotheses 
• Predictions 
• Experiments

The experiments is as important as theoretical formulation. Once predictions are made, they can be sought by experiments. 

The purpose of an experiment is to determine whether observations of the real world agree with or conflict with the predictions derived from an hypothesis. If they agree, confidence in the hypothesis increases; otherwise, it decreases. 

It is not easy to perform experiments especially for validating theory. Experiments should be designed to minimize possible errors, through the use of appropriate scientific controls. Furthermore, failure of an experiment does not necessarily mean the hypothesis is false. Experiments always depend on several hypotheses, e.g., that the test equipment is working properly, and a failure may be a failure of one of the auxiliary hypotheses. 

However, performing experimental tests is time and money consuming then in my opinion one needs a mathematical model consistent with reality in such a way that mathematical model and simulation may can be considered as a virtual test. 

In application domains such as structural design, automotive design, mechanical design, vibration control, biomechanics, the notion of a virtual experiment is a valuable tool for checking and optimizing extensively the complex designs before a realization is ever made. This "doing it right the first time" leads to tremendous cost savings and improved quality. 

To aim at this it is compulsory to introduce mathematical formulation binding real behaviour. Once this theoretical formulation is reliable having confirmed experimental tests, then one can realize virtual experimental results. For instance, dealing with vibration control passive systems: Do we have VIRTUAL EXPERIMENTS? 

Short Bio
Antonina Pirrotta is a Full Professor in Structural Mechanics at the University of Palermo, Italy. She, graduated in Civil Engineering from Palermo University in 1987. Firstly for 6 years she worked as freelance structural engineer, then has done PhD in Structural Engineering in 1996 and as Post-doctoral studies in 1998. In 2000, she became a Researcher, in 2001 Associate Professor and in 2016 Full Professor in Engineering department at the University of Palermo, Italy. 

• HEAD of PhD School of University of Palermo from 2023. 
• HEAD of CIDIS from 2021. 
• Board of Governors of ASCE (EMI) 2021-2024 (exceptionally renewed every year). 

Her achievements resulted in many scientific recognitions and awards, which include the appointment as Chair of IDEA Innovative Dynamics Experiments Association (2022), several fellowships, memberships on scientific committees of various key international conferences, a membership on the Advisory Board of the MSCA COFUND Doctoral Programme at the University of Innsbruck, and many invitations as plenary speaker at several international conferences. 

Prof. Pirrotta has organized and co-organized an exceptionally large number of international conferences, the last EMI2023International Conference organized at University of Palermo and for what she received the appreciation award, minisymposia, and summer schools in Italy and all over the world. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics (ASCE), (first professor with Italian affiliation) and of Meccanica, which are two absolute top journals in the field. Additionally, she is a member of the Editorial Board of various international scientific journals. She was a Visiting Professor at many universities all over the world such as Tongji University, Columbia University, Liverpool University, TU Wien, etc. With over 180 published papers, she is a leading researcher in the field of structural mechanics and collaborates with renowned institutions worldwide. 

Prof. Antonina Pirrotta 's contributions and leadership have made her a notable figure in Structural Mechanics and a role model for women in science. 

AWARDS 

• Member of the Academic Committee of the Joint Laboratory of International Coperation on Structural Mechanics of Composite Materials for Electronic Devices, Xidian University, China, 2025-2028. 
   
• 2025 The Aftab Mufti Medal Best Paper Award. A. Di Matteo, D. Fiandaca, A. Pirrotta; “Smartphone-based bridge monitoring through vehicle–bridge interaction: analysis and experimental assessment” Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring (2022) 12:1329–1342; in SHMII’13 Conference, September 1 to 5, 2025 in Graz, Austria. 
   
• 2024 Global WIIN (Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network) Exemplary Special Recognition Award October 2024, for tenacity and Innovative Achievements. 
   
• 2024 Certificate of Appreciation for dedication and service as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Engineering Mechanics Institute 2021-2024. 
   
• 2023 ITWIIN : the Higher Education Award for the notable commitment to higher education activities, in the national and international academic context, and for having shown a high capacity for disseminating scientific knowledge in dissemination and collaboration initiatives. 
   
• 2023 Appreciation award for outstanding service and dedication as Chair of the EMI2023International Conference at the University of Palermo, Italy August 27-30, 2023. 
   
• 2020 First EASD SENIOR RESEARCH PRIZE in the area of DEVELOPMENT OF METHODOLOGIES FOR STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, for her important contributions in the fields of passive control, multi-body systems, continuum mechanics, stochastic mechanics, health monitoring, (first European woman). 
   
• 2020 Research Prize "Francesco Carbone Experimenta".