Sipontina Croce

Ph.D. Student

Ph.D. Advisor: Jun.-Prof. Gianluca Rizzello

Address:
c/o ZeMA - Zentrum für Mechatronik und Automatisierungstechnik gGmbH
Eschberger Weg 46, Gewerbepark Gebäude 9
66121 Saarbrücken
Germany

Mail: sipontina.croce(at)uni-saarland.de

Telephone: +49 (0)681-302-71365

 

Education

  • 2019 - Master's Degree in Automation and Control Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy
  • 2017 - Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Automation Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

Research

Research Project

  • DECMAS - Dielectric Elastomer Membranes for Cooperative Micro- Actuator/Sensor Concepts (DFG SPP 2206 KOMMMA),
    subproject Modeling and Self-Sensing

Research Interests

  • Finite Element modeling
  • Control-oriented modeling
  • Dielectric Elastomers
  • Soft Robotics

Teaching

Teaching Assistant

  • Summer Semester 2022 - Coordination of seminars at the intelligent Material Systems Lab (Prof. Stefan Seelecke)
  • Summer Semester 2021 - Coordination of seminars at the intelligent Material Systems Lab (Prof. Stefan Seelecke)

Scientific Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers

  1. M. Kohl, C. Ament, G. Arivanandhan, T. Bechtold, P. Conrad, S. Croce, V. Gottwald, M. Hoffmann, J. Hubertus, A. Kopp, Z. Li, M. Olbrich, K. Poletkin, A. Priuli, G. Rizzello, A. Schuetz, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, L. Seigner, H. Shahsavari, M. B. Shamim, M. Sielenkämper, G. K. Tshikwand, U. Wallrabe, P. Weber, F. Wendler, and S. Wulfinghoff, “Active Bi- and Multistability in Cooperative Microactuator Systems,” Sensors and Actuators Reports, pp. 1-55, May. 2025 (DOI: 10.1016/j.snr.2025.100338).
  2. S. Seelecke, J. Neu, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Dielectric Elastomer Cooperative Microactuator Systems—DECMAS,” Actuators, vol. 12, no. 4, p. 141, March 2023 (DOI: 10.3390/act12040141).
  3. J. Hubertus, S. Croce, J. Neu, S. Seelecke, G. Rizzello, and G. Schultes, “Laser Structuring of Thin Metal Films of Compliant Electrodes on Dielectric Elastomers,” Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 33, no. 16, p. 2214176, Apr. 2023 (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202214176).
  4. J. Neu, S. Croce, T. Willian, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, and G. Rizzello, “Distributed Electro‑Mechanical Coupling Effects in a Dielectric Elastomer Membrane Array,” Experimental Mechanics, vol. 63, pp. 79-95, Jan. 2023 (DOI: 10.1007/s11340-022-00892-0).
  5. S. Croce, J. Neu, G. Moretti, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Finite element modeling and validation of a soft array of spatially coupled dielectric elastomer transducers,” Smart Materials and Structures, vol. 31, no. 8, p. 084001, Aug. 2022 (DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/ac78ad).
  6. S. Croce, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, S. Seelecke, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Model-Based Design Optimization of Soft Polymeric Domes Used as Nonlinear Biasing Systems for Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” Actuators, vol. 10, no. 9, p. 209, Aug. 2021 (DOI: 10.3390/act10090209).
  7. J. Hubertus, J. Neu, S. Croce, G. Rizzello, S. Seelecke, and G. Schultes, “Nanoscale Nickel-based Thin Films as Highly Conductive Electrodes for Dielectric Elastomer Applications with Extremely High Stretchability up to 200 %,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 33, pp. 39894-39904, Aug. 2021 (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10686).
  8. J. Neu, J. Hubertus, S. Croce, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, and G. Rizzello, “Fully Polymeric Domes as High-Stroke Biasing System for Soft Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” Frontiers in Robotics and AI, vol. 8, p. 171, Jun. 2021 (DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2021.695918).
  9. S. Nalbach, R. M. Banda, S. Croce, G. Rizzello, D. Naso, and S. Seelecke, “Modeling and Design Optimization of a Rotational Soft Robotic System Driven by Double Cone Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” Frontiers in Robotics and AI, vol. 6, p. 150, Jan. 2020 (DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2019.00150).

International Conference Proceedings

  1. A. Priuli, S. Addario, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Finite element modeling and numerical investigation of the effects of miniaturization on the performance of dielectric elastomer actuators," in Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI, 2024, p. 129450N (DOI: 10.1117/12.3010405).
  2. S. Croce, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, B. Fasolt, and G. Rizzello, “Self-Sensing Investigation of a Dielectric Elastomer Actuator Array," in Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXVI, 2024, p. 1294509 (DOI: 10.1117/12.3010487).
  3. S. Croce, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, S. Seelecke, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Finite Element Modeling and Parameter Study of a Fully-Polymeric Array of Coupled Dielectric Elastomers," in Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIV, 2022, p. 120420B (DOI: 10.1117/12.2612608).
  4. J. Neu, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, and G. Rizzello, “Experimental characterization of the mechanical coupling in a DE-array," in Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIV, 2022, p. 120420H (DOI: 10.1117/12.2612804).
  5. S. Croce, G. Moretti, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, S. Seelecke, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Finite Element Modeling and Simulation of a Soft Array of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators,” in ASME 2021 Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, p. V001T07A003 (DOI: 10.1115/SMASIS2021-67752).
  6. J. Neu, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, and G. Rizzello, “Characterization and Modeling of an Array of Dielectric Elastomer Taxels," in Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIII, 2021, p. 115870R (DOI: 10.1117/12.2582943).
  7. J. Hubertus, S. Croce, J. Neu, G. Rizzello, S. Seelecke, and G. Schultes, “Electromechanical characterization and laser structuring of Ni-based sputtered metallic compliant electrodes for DE applications," in 17th International Conference on New Actuators, 2021, pp. 1-4.
  8. J. Neu, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Rizzello, G. Schultes, and S. Seelecke, “Design and characterization of polymeric domes as biasing elements for dielectric elastomer membrane actuators," in 17th International Conference on New Actuators, 2021, pp. 1-4.
  9. S. Croce, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, S. Seelecke, and G. Rizzello, “Modeling and simulation of compliant biasing systems for dielectric elastomer membranes based on polymeric domes," in 17th International Conference on New Actuators, 2021, pp. 1-4.
  10. J. Hubertus, S. Croce, J. Neu, G. Rizzello, S. Seelecke, and G. Schultes, “Influence of residual stresses of sputtered thin film electrodes for dielectric elastomer applications," in The 1st International Electronic Conference on Actuator Technology: Materials, Devices and Applications, 2020, p. 2 (DOI: 10.3390/IeCAT2020-08492).
  11. J. Neu, S. Croce, J. Hubertus, G. Schultes, G. Rizzello, and S. Seelecke, “Assembly and characterization of a DE actuator basedon polymeric domes as biasing element," in The 1st International Electronic Conference on Actuator Technology: Materials, Devices and Applications, 2020, p. 24 (DOI: 10.3390/IeCAT2020-08490).
  12. S. Croce, J. Neu, J. Hubertus, S. Seelecke, G. Schultes, and G. Rizzello, “Modeling and simulation of an array of Dielectric Elestomeric Actuator Membranes," in The 1st International Electronic Conference on Actuator Technology: Materials, Devices and Applications, 2020, p. 28 (DOI: 10.3390/IeCAT2020-08489).