Research has been developed continuously through the time and focused on the following lines: non-classical fracture mechanics applied to the analysis of crack onset and growth in composite materials, development of analytical and numerical tools able to solve the previously mentioned problems, and the characterization of the 3D printed composites and their applications. The first research line was oriented to understanding the damage mechanisms on composites at micro, meso and macro scales. The aim was to enrich the knowledge of composites’ damage (or fracture) behaviour thus improving the failure prediction. The second line includes numerical analyses (using the Boundary Element Method, BEM, and the Finite Element Method, FEM) that were correlated with experimental data at micro and macro scales. Damage was implemented and modelled using the classical Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) and also non-classical models as Cohesive Zone Models (CZM), Linear Elastic Brittle Interface Models (LEBIM) and Finite Fracture Mechanics (FFM). Finally, the third line studies the Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) process on composites and identify some applications where ALM parts can be used.

Obtained results include 35 publications on recognized international journals (22 on first quartile JCR journals) and 2 book chapters, being the first author in most of the publications. Four papers are highlighted with 182, 75, 40 and 36 cites on Scopus database, obtaining and h-index equal to 11. Additionally, 22 papers published in National Journals (derived from National Conferences) support the research developed. Scientific production is complemented with a large number of conference contributions (30 international and 10 national conferences) being more than 95% oral presentations. 

Financial support associated to these results includes the coordination (Principal Investigator) of the following grants: (a) US-1266016, Junta de Andalucía through Universidad de Sevilla, from 01/02/2020 to 30/04/2022, 90.000,00 €. (b) PGC2018-099197-B-I00, Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry, from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2021, 60.500,00 €. (c) AT17_5908_USE, Junta de Andalucía, Actividades de Transferencia, from 01/01/2020 to 31/07/2021, 59.500,00 €. (d) P12-TEP-1050, Junta de Andalucía, Excellence Projects, from 30/01/2014 to 29/01/2018, 116.745,00 €. Additionally, it is remarkable the participation as researcher in 5 National (Spanish) Projects and 3 Regional (Andalusian) Projects.

It is also interesting to notice the international collaboration (evidenced with journal/conference publications) with the following researchers: P. Cornetti (POLITO, Italy), L.J. Gray (ORNL, USA), C.G. Panagiotopoulos (Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece), A. Salvadori (U. Brescia, Italy), A. Sapora (POLITO, Italy), R. Vodicka (TUKE, Kosice, Slovakia).

Innovation was also a part of the activity, shown by nine contracts with different companies: ENDESA, ABENGOA, EMASESA, AIRBUS. The variety of topics and the solution of relevant problems from the technical and industry point of view can be shown. Two main results are highlighted: (a) a Spanish, European and USA patent with inventors from Universidad de Sevilla and AIRBUS and (b) introduction of Machine Learning techniques for the pipe failure assessment on water distributions systems.

Treasurer of the Spanish Structural Integrity Society (Spanish Group of Fracture) since April 2019.

Regarding the training capacity, 2 PhD thesis were co-supervised, both obtained the maximum qualification (Sobresaliente “cum laude”) in 2020 and 2021. At the moment, 3 PhD students are being supervised. Additionally, 24 final projects (including engineering bachelor and master) were directed, it is remarkable that results included in some of these projects were published in international journals and conferences. At last, a supervision of a young investigator for a two-year contract in the framework of European Youth Guarantee is running from April 2021.

Three special issues in recognized journals were edited (as invited editor): Composites Part A (2015), International Journal of Fracture (2019) and Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics (2019). Usual reviewer of international journals (45 manuscripts reviewed) and reviewer of 5 projects for the Spanish National Research Agency (AEI).