Soraia Pimenta

Dr. Soraia Pimenta is an Associate Professor in Mechanics of Materials and Structures at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London. She is affiliated with Bone Health and The Composites Centre, focusing on advanced composite materials. Her academic journey includes an MEng from the University of Porto and a PhD from Imperial College London (2013).

• MEng, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (2002-2008)
• PhD, Imperial College London (2008-2013)

Soraia's research centers on the mechanics of composites, emphasizing predictive modeling across their entire lifecycle—from high-performance aerospace applications to scalable recycling solutions. She explores both continuous and discontinuous fiber composites, with a focus on fatigue behavior, damage tolerance, and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Her recent work includes advancements in recyclable multilayer packaging, structural fuses for controlled failure in composites, and fatigue failure prediction in injection-molded components. She employs finite element simulations, experimental validation, and multiscale modeling to bridge material properties with structural performance.

Scientific Awards

• SAMPE Schliekelmann Award (2009)
• International Committee for Composite Materials Tsai Award (2011)
• Japan Society for Composite Materials Hayashi Memorial International Award (2015)
• Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship (2015-2020)

Soraia contributes to grants like the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and leads projects such as BOJO, aiming to advance carbon fiber recycling technologies. She also collaborates with initiatives like GoCarbonFibre and Lifeline Waste Carbon Fibres to address sustainability in composites.