phd in ingegneria strutturale, sismica, geotecnica / … · coupling is an inherent feature of the...

PhD in INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE, SISMICA,

GEOTECNICA / STRUCTURAL SEISMIC AND

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING - 35th cycle

Number of scholarship offered 3

DepartmentDIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA CIVILE EAMBIENTALE

Description of the PhD Programme

Structural, Seismic and Geotechnical Engineering - SSGE - encompasses the disciplines andtechniques to understand, model and control the behavior of: (a) structural materials (concrete,steel, masonry, composites, bio-materials and materials for micro-systems), (b) structuralsystems (from constructions to bio-mechanical systems and micro-systems), (c) soils and (d)environment-construction interaction. Being deeply-rooted in the civil engineering which is ¿ by itsvery nature ¿ highly inter-disciplinary, SSGE also focuses on environmental actions, eitherexternal (such as earthquakes, vibrations, irradiation, wind and fire) or ensuing from soil-structureinteraction (such as those caused by retained-earth thrust, landslides and water-tablefluctuations). Because of their generality in materials and structural modeling, the methodsdeveloped within the domain of SSGE are also very useful in other technical-scientific fields,whenever understanding and controlling mechanical aspects is necessary to guarantee designreliability and structural safety, serviceability and durability. Many are the examples of typicalSSGE issues: from tall buildings and bridges to industrial bio-mechanical and micro-electromechanical systems, from off-shore structures and dams to the rehabilitation ofmonumental buildings, from seismic design and structural dynamics to slope stability, tunnelbehavior and foundations, not to mention many issues in common with several branches ofindustrial engineering.

List of topics and research areas

Advanced computational methods for coupled problems in porous media - Advancedcomputational methods for the simulation of complex flows with moving boundaries -Cementitious materials and concrete structure under extreme and exceptional loading -Computational and experimental mechanics - Computational mechanics of materials andstructures - D-zones and anchorages under severe conditions - Earthquake engineering andstructural dynamics - Fire safety of concrete structures - Geotechnical earthquake engineering -

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Life-cycle performance of bridges and structures - Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems andmicromechanics - Microseismic monitoring of unstable rock slopes - Smart materials andstructures - Structural analysis of built heritage - Theoretical modelling and mechanicalcharacterisation of biomaterials - Topology optimization for structural design.

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Research Field: ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL METHODS FOR COUPLED PROBLEMS IN

POROUS MEDIA

Monthly net income of PhDscholarship (max 36 months)

€ 1160.0In case of a change of the welfare rates during the three-year period, the amount could be modified.

Context of the research activity

Motivation and objectives of the researchin this field

Coupling is an inherent feature of the engineeringbehaviour of porous materials, and it requires multi-phaseand multi-scale approach for its analysis. The interplayingrole of different physical fields, e.g. electrical, chemical,thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, highly non-linear effects,moving interfaces, and large scale heterogeneities,definitely require numerical methods for their analysis. Inthe past the bottleneck was given by the hardwarelimitations, while nowadays the most relevant difficultiesare related on the one side to the determination ofcoupled mechanical properties and, on the other side, tothe setup of robust numerical procedures able to copewith multithread and parallel treatment.Specifically, this proposal focuses on the development ofinnovative numerical tools to analyse problems related tothe durability of porous materials, undergoing slow cyclicand fast dynamic or thermal excitation, chemicalaggression and material degradation.The final aim of the investigation is life-cycle assessmentof engineering and biological structures made of, orinteracting with, porous materials. The proposal isinserted into a wider numerical and experimental activity,supported by different Italian and foreigner privatecompanies and public agencies.

Methods and techniques that will be Numerical modelling requires moving on with new1 / 3

developed and used to carry out theresearch

techniques, stemming from standard finite elementapproaches, based on approximation methods moreflexible in view of parallel implementation. A balancedcombination of field and laboratory tests will also supportaccurate material characterisation.

Educational objectives

The proposed work can contribute to shape an all-roundscientific personality. Three main abilities will bedeveloped: theoretical modelling, numerical developmentsand experimental testing.

Job opportunities

The proposed research project will allow the Ph.D.student to come in contact with a broad family ofgeotechnical/structural/biomechanical problems and to getan in-depth knowledge of different theoretical subjects.Working in this project will be stimulating and will favourhigh-level career profile in advanced fields of engineering.

Composition of the research group

2 Full Professors1 Associated Professors1 Assistant Professors1 PhD Students

Name of the research directors G. Della Vecchia, C. Jommi, A. Pandolfi, D. Sterpi

Contacts

Gabriele Della Vecchia: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4264Cristina Jommi: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4281Anna Pandolfi: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4217Donatella Sterpi: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4311

www.dica.polimi.it

Additional support - Financial aid per PhD student per year (gross amount)

Housing - Foreign Students --

Housing - Out-of-town residents(more than 80Km out of Milano) --

Additional information: educational activity, teaching assistantship, computer availability, desk availability,any other information

List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions that

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are cooperating in the researchTU, Delft, NetherlandsUPC, Barcelona, SpainCaltech, Pasadena, USAEPFL, Lausanne, CHUniversity of Siegen, Siegen, GermanyMIUR, Roma, ItalyE.N.I., San Donato, ItalyTechnital S.p.A., Milano, Italy

Educational activitiesThe Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, studentswill be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year.

Teaching assistanshipPh.D. students are encouraged to apply upon prior authorization to the calls to support teachingactivities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, and they are paid for that. Theteaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted toteaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.

Computer availabilityEach Ph.D. student has his/her own computer for individual use.

Desk availabilityEach Ph.D. student has his/her own desk, cabinet and locker.

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Research Field: CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES UNDER

EXTREME AND EXCEPTIONAL LOADING





Concrete, reinforced/prestressed concrete and advancedcementitious composites are so extensively used todaythat many are the structures exposed to either extremeenvironmental conditions (high corrosion, high/lowtemperature) or exceptional loads (fire, explosions,vehicle impact, bombing, natural disasters). Hence,improving structural durability, also through the use oftailored engineered self-healing techniques andpreventing progressive structural failures, is becomingone of the imperatives for structural engineering and code-writing bodies. The quantitative assessment of damage inany structure exposed to extreme and exceptional loads isa basic step for risk-mitigation design. To this purpose,non-standard experimental techniques, accurate materialmodels and advanced computational approaches shouldbe developed.

Methods and techniques that will bedeveloped and used to carry out theresearch

Both experimental techniques and numerical methods areneeded to solve the still-open problems in severely-corroded or fire/blast-damaged structures. For instance,assessing the decay of bar-concrete bond under chlorideattack, or quantifying the healing capacity of cementitiouscomposites, requires special techniques and equipmentsto simulate different exposure conditions, accelerate theireffects, e.g. in terms of corrosion rate, recovery ofperformance, and to quantify the related effects. Testing

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concrete at high temperature needs split-tube furnaces tobe designed and constructed. Investigating materials andstructural behaviors under blast requires special deviceslike shock tubes or scaled experimental models.Evaluating fracture energy and size effect in concretestructures requires special specimens. Assessingconcrete damage via nondestructive test methods basedon concrete colorimetry, ultrasounds and x-rays, as wellas linking concrete fresh-state properties to those afterhardening are bringing in advanced techniques. At thesame time, adequate theoretical and numerical models atthe meso-structural and structural level are beingdeveloped, to be implemented into available FE codes.


Designing concrete structures for durability, fire proofingand blast resistance requires a multi-disciplinaryapproach, since many and different topics are involved(materials, structures, human and structural safety, heattransfer, diffusion of chemical products, chemistry ofcombustion, chemistry of concrete, fluid-structureinteraction). Consequently, the candidate will not onlyhave the opportunity to contribute to the broadening of theknowledge in one or more directions, but will have also aninsight into a variety of problems, with high technical andsocio-economic impact.

Job opportunities

In-depth research activities concerning the mechanicalenvironment-induced decay of structural materials andconstructions is a sound basis for understanding andmastering not only corrosion, fire, and blast-relatedevents, but any incident that can regard other scenariosrelated to the safety of large and socially-relevantstructures.Job opportunities are basically the same as for structuralengineers (universities, public and private researchcenters, large engineering firms, consulting and insurancecompanies), but with a plus granted by a large-spectrumformation.



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Name of the research directors Marco di Prisco

Contacts

Marco di Prisco: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4400

www.dica.polimi.it





List of the Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutionsthat are cooperating in the researchSUPSI, Canobbio-Lugano, Switzerland - http://www.supsi.ch/Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel - http://www.cs.bgu.ac.il/UniversityofStuttgart, Germany - http:www.uni-stuttgart.deArizona State University, USA - http://www.asu.edu/ETH, Zurich, SwitzerlandEPFL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandNorthwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USAINSA - Mech. et Durabilité des Constr., Toulouse, FranceCTG - Italcementi, Bergamo, ItalyCSTB - Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Marne-La-Vallée, FranceRELUIS - http://www.reluis.itUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, BrasilUniversity of Leuven, BelgiumUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaUniversitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, SpainDTU, Delft, The Netherlands

Educational activities The Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, studentswill be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year.

Teaching assistanship Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply upon prior authorization to the calls to support teachingactivities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, and they are paid for that. The

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teaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted toteaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.

Computer availability Each Ph.D. student has his/her own computer for individual use.

Desk availability Each Ph.D. student has his/her own desk, cabinet and locker.

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Research Field: COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS





The proposed subject represents an advanced topic formulti-disciplinary research activities, involving expertise inengineering, physics, and medicine. A two-year project (5per mille Politecnico, Euro 80,000) a grant for equipment(Fondazione Banca del Monte) already concluded, and anew ongoing project by Fondazione Cariplo and RegioneLombardia (Euro 100,000) have all been awarded to Dr.R. Fedele and are now concluded. An ERC ConsolidatorProposal by the same PI was selected for the interviewand received "B" as final score. In addition, the CARIPLOproject coordinated by Prof. Mariani has been granted fortwo years, and it includes X-ray micro CT investigationson polymeric foam samples.The main innovative content is represented bycharacterization and modelling of heterogeneousmaterials and constructs at different scales (polymericfoams, advanced ceramics, restored human teeth) on thebasis of the information provided through X-rays micro CTand inverse analyses.


The subject will combine non-conventional experiments,mathematical modeling in a framework artlessy multi-scale and inverse analyses in a sequence (3D DigitalImage Correlation, parameter identification). In particular, X-ray computed microtomography allows toreconstruct the inner (bulk) microstructure ofheterogeneous samples, possibly evolving under complex

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loading. Moreover, conventional experimental techniquesat the macroscale, so far applied in engineering and to bepossibly improved, will be considered for a crossvalidation. Possible experiments with a testing machineplaced in the department laboratory at the small scale willalso be considered to get insight into the materialproperties.


The main objective from an educational standpoint isrepresented by a full-immersion training into the world ofexperiments, computer simulations and multidisciplinaryapplications, rooted into the knowledge of computationalmechanics, advanced technologies and matter physics. Adoctoral course on this subject was activated last year.

Job opportunities

From the standpoint of an academic career, working onthis multidisciplinary topic will allow Ph.D. students toachieve a wide preparation, both experimental andnumerical, oriented to a variety of engineering andbiomedical applications, which is expected to be greatlyappreciated by many research groups in Europe and inthe USA. For example, a post-doc co-worker has justfound an interesting research position abroad. Alsoprivate enterprises will appreciate thisexpertise, as across several disciplines and suitable forR&D activities.



Name of the research directors Roberto Fedele, Stefano Mariani, Aldo Ghisi

Contacts

Roberto Fedele: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4275Stefano Mariani: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4279Aldo Ghisi: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 2399

www.dica.polimi.it

The research will involve other groups from the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, AerospaceEngineering, Chemical Engineering, working in the MicroCT lab facility AMALA of Politecnico diMilano.

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List of the Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutionsthat are cooperating in the researchEMPA, ZurichMcGill University, Montreal Università degli Studi di Milano - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Milan

Educational activitiesThe Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, studentswill be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year

Teaching assistanship Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply upon prior authorization to the calls to support teachingactivities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, and they are paid for that. Theteaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted toteaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.



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Research Field: COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS OF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES





New modeling capabilities at both material and structurallevels, and innovative computational procedures arefavoring considerable advances in various fields ofstructural engineering, with important fallouts in industrialapplications. Further research efforts are needed to develop moreaccurate and efficient procedures in the following contextsamong others: (a) metamaterials design; (b) multi-physicsproblems; (c) nonlinear analyses of structures andindustrial components; (d) inverse analyses aimed atcalibrating material models; (e) safety assessment ofexisting ageing structures.


Advances in computational methodologies (by means ofFEM, X-FEM, particle-FEM, and BEM) applied to variouschallenging and present-day engineering problems, alsoin multi-scale contexts; inverse analysis based on physicalmeasurements for damage identification and for materialcharacterization (at various scales).


The Ph.D. student engaged in this rather interdisciplinaryproject is expected to acquire the ability to tackle complexproblems and to develop effective problem-tailoredsolution procedures.

Job opportunities There is a growing need for post-docs with specific

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expertise in computational mechanics and in integrity-assessment methodologies applicable both to civilengineering structures/infrastructures and to industrialcomponents.



Name of the research directors C. Comi, G. Novati, U. Perego

Contacts

Claudia Comi: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4215Giorgio Novati: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4257Umberto Perego: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4214

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the research

LMT-Cachan, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Technologie, Cachan, FranceÉcole Polytechnique, Paris, FranceÉcole Centrale de Nantes, FrancePoznan University, PolandUniversity of Newcastle, UKE.N.I. - Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, ItalyDalmine S.p.A., ItalyTetra Pak Packaging Solution, Modena, ItalyRtm Breda, Cormano (Milan), ItalyA2A, Milan, ItalyR.S.E. - Ricerca Sistema Elettrico, ItalyCNRS, France

Educational activities2 / 3

The Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, studentswill be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year.

Teaching assistanship Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply, upon prior authorization, to the calls to support teachingactivities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, being paid for that. The teachingassistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted to teaching andclassroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.



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Research Field: D-ZONES AND ANCHORAGES UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS





Several aspects of reinforced-concrete structures are stillopen to investigation. Among them the strengthening ofexisting members and the coupling of different membersare considered in this research project. Structuralstrengthening via external bonding of fiber-reinforcedpolymer (FRP) composites has become a populartechnique all over the world. The performance of theinterface between FRP and concrete is one of the keyfactors affecting the behavior of the strengthenedstructure.Many experimental and theoretical results are availablenowadays on the behavior of bonded interfaces, but thereis still a number of open questions regarding (a) how thebonded length and the FRC plate stiffness affect thebehavior of the interface and (b) to what an extent thelocal phenomena at the ends of the interface affects thestructural response. Nonetheless, very few data existsregarding the variation of bond properties after exposureto fire. The coupling of different R/C members and thesteel to concrete connection are often performed bymeans of post- installed rebar or anchors, respectively. Inboth cases they aim to transfer externally-applied loads tothe concrete member. Anchors fail in different ways, butanchor's pull-out from the concrete is the best known, as itrepresents the biggest concern for structural-engineeringapplications.In the mid 1980s, unconservative and incorrect formulas

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for the prediction of the pull-out capacity were proposed,on the basis of the theory of plasticity. Later, progressivecrack propagation along a single fractured surface wasrecognized as the driving force behind headed-anchor'spull-out, and linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)allowed to work out the so-called CCD method (ConcreteCapacity Design formula, by Fuchs et al., 1995).However, several aspects are not considered yet, like thebehavior of anchors and post-installed rebar underseismic action or the modifications of strut-and-tiemechanism in D-regions or R/C elements induced by ananchor.


Both the FRP layers bonded to the concrete and theanchors embedded in the concrete need suitablenumerical models to be developed, in order to investigatethe shear-stress distribution at the interface in the formercase and the load-displacement response in the lattercase, under both static and dynamic loads. In theformer case, appropriate bi-linear bond laws will beimplemented.From an experimental point of view, post-installedanchors and rebars will be tested under seismic-typeloads, with two components (a shear component and anaxial component) or in real scale beam-to-column andcolumn-to-foundation nodes. Anchors behavior will bealso modeled by means of 3-D FE codes.


Concrete and Reinforced-Concrete mechanics are rathermulti-disciplinary, since many and different topics areinvolved (materials, structures, technological aspects,structural design, testing, modeling, etc.). Consequently,the candidate will not only have the opportunity tocontribute to the broadening of the knowledge in one ormore directions, but he/she will also have an insight into avariety of problems with high technical and socio-economic impact.

Job opportunities

An in-depth research activity in the field of concrete andR/C mechanics is a sound basis for understanding andmastering not only concrete-related phenomena, but alsothe structural behavior in a broader sense.

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Job opportunities are basically the same as for anystructural engineer, but with a plus granted by a large-spectrum training.In addition, the specific knowledge in the field of post-installed connection can guarantee a career in the R&Ddepartment of anchor manufacturing companies.



Name of the research directors Gianpaolo Rosati, Giovanni Muciaccia

Contacts

Gianpaolo Rosati: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4377Giovanni Muciaccia: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4365

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchUniversity of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaUniversity of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, GermanyNottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UKUPC, Barcelona, SpainCSTB, Paris, FranceMAPEI, ItalyCTG-Italcementi, Bergamo, ItalyECAP - European Consortium of Anchor Producers


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Research Field: DIGITAL MANUFACTURING IN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY





Interdisciplinary PhD Grant The PhD research will be carried out in collaboration withresearch groups of the PhD programme in "MaterialsEngineering".See http://www.dottorato.polimi.it/index.php?id=242&L=1for further information.

Automation is going to deeply modify the traditionalconstruction processes, additive manufacturingtechnologies with cement based materials having becomea cutting edge topic in the field of concrete engineeringand constructiontechnology(http://gramaziokohler.arch.ethz.ch/web/e/forschung/index.html). Among the main advantages, besidessaving the cost of formworks (up top 40-50% of the totalcost of a reinforced concrete structures), an innovativestructure concept could be developed, which, through theincorporation of structural optimization concepts, couldbetter adapt the structural shape to the needs of thecustomer. The brittle behavior of concrete requires theuse of a reinforcement, whose layout may hardly complywith 3D printing/additive manufacturing technologies. Forthis reason, high performance FRCCs, overcoming theneed of traditional reinforcement thanks to their strainhardening behavior, may be ideal candidates for additivemanufacturing applications. The topic has not beeninvestigated so far even if interest towards it is

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increasing.The proposed research aims at optimizing thematerial concept and performance in view of itsimplementation into additive manufacturing technologies.


Rheological characterization of (fibre reinforced) cement

mortars and time evolution of the rheological behaviour

as an input to optimize the 3D printing process;

•

Computational fluid dynamics modelling of the 3D

printing process (in analogy with polymer extrusion and

metal forming) to simulate the additive manufacturing of

structural elements made with the previously optimized

mixes; simulation will also aim at optimizing printing

technology in terms of extrusion rate, dimensions of the

extrusion bed etc.;

•

Evaluation of mechanical and durability performance of

3d printed elements, also fibre reinforced, as compared

to monothonically cast analogous ones;

•

Use of structural optimization algorithms for the design

of ¿structural shapes¿;

•

Additive manufacturing data management (e.g. pressure

nozzle data and correlation to the rheology and to the

geometry of the output product), for an ¿on-time¿

monitoring of the process

•


The doctor of philosophy at the end of his studies willhave the necessary intellectual tools and technical skills totake on careers of leadership in the development of newtechnologies, construction of innovative and sustainableinfrastructure, the design of engineered systems, and tocontribute to society through participation in policy makingand governance.

Job opportunities

A graduate from this PhD degree track can easily go on totop jobs as engineer, faculty member at top universities,engineer consultant, leader for non-governmentalorganizations, and even start his own company.

Composition of the research group 1 Full Professors2 Associated Professors

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2 Assistant Professors0 PhD Students

Name of the research directors Liberato Ferrara, Marinella Levi

Contacts

[email protected] ¿ [email protected]





Educational activities (purchase of study books and material, funding for participation to courses,summer schools, workshops and conferences): The Ph.D. course supports the educationalactivities of its Ph.D. students with an additional funding equal to 10% of the scholarship, startingfrom the second year. In some cases, students will be allowed to use part of this funding also inthe first year.

Teaching assistanship (availability of funding in recognition of support to teaching activities by thePhD student): Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply, upon prior authorization, to the calls tosupport teaching activities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, being paid forthat. The teaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of themdevoted to teaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.

Computer availability and desk availability: Each Ph.D. student has his/her own computer forindividual use.Each Ph.D. student has his/her own desk, cabinet and locker.

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Research Field: EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS





TopicsModeling of r.c. and steel structures under seismic actionsSafety assessment of isolated industrial buildingsDynamics of systems with geometrical and mechanicalnonlinearitiesDynamics and control of bridges under wind andearthquake forces Dynamic response of tall buildings under wind excitationDynamic response of offshore structures (e.g. SubmergedFloating Tunnels, Offshore Wind Turbines)Experimental and numerical techniques in dynamicanalysisDynamic fluid-structure interactionVehicle-structure interactionHuman-structure interaction on flexible footbridges


a) Numerical procedures for the non-linear dynamicanalysis of structural systems under dynamicenvironmental excitation; b) Analytical/numerical methods for the estimation of theresponse of uncertain structural systems under randomdynamic excitation; c) Experimental vibration serviceability survey of civilstructures; d) Development of a mechanical model of a walkingpedestrian and identification of the model parameters.

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The Ph.D. student will carry out a multidisciplinaryresearch that will expose him/her to advancedexperimental, analytical and numerical techniques that arebeyond traditional structural engineering. The student willimprove both written and oral presentation skills.

Job opportunities

Job opportunities in the following fields: - further academic positions in universities worldwide- research centers and institutes- construction industry as structural designers andconsultants



Name of the research directors Ardito, Martinelli, Mulas, Perotti, Petrini, Racic

Contacts

Raffaele Ardito: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4272Luca Martinelli: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4247Maria Gabriella Mulas: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4231Federico Perotti: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4229Lorenza Petrini: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4307Vitomir Racic: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4233

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchANIMP, Milano, ItalyStatens Vegvesen, NorwayTokyo Institute of Technology, JapanUniversitat Politecnica de Catalunya, SpainPolitecnico di Torino, Italy

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University of Warwick, UKUniversity of Exeter, UKThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, ChinaTongji University, Shanghai, China





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Research Field: EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND COMPUTATIONAL MODELING OF

LONG-TERM AND DEGRADATION OF IMPROVED-DURABILITY CONCRETE AND

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES





The research is part of the project ReSHEALience(Horizon 2020) which has the aim to develop an UltraHigh Durability Concrete (UHDC) and a DurabilityAssessment-based Design (DAD) methodology forstructures, to improve durability and predict their long-term performance under Extremely Aggressive Exposures(EAE), namely chloride-induced corrosion and chemicalattack. The improvement will be supported upgradingUltra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete withnew functionalities for marine structures andinfrastructures and for geothermal/biomass energy plants.This goal will be achieved through (1) a comprehensiveexperimental campaign addressing the optimization of themix design and the characterization of the overallbehaviour at both the small and large-scale and (2) thedevelopment of a theoretical model to evaluate ageingand degradation of UHDC structures in EAE extending themodelling to predict the lifespan. The main target is todevelop a new durability-based design approach for theuse of UHDC, aimed at assessing the structures durabilityand Life Cycle Analysis, to achieve an increase servicelife of 30%, and a long-term reduction of maintenancecosts. The overall approach will be validated through long-term monitoring in six full-scale proofs of concept thatUHDC in real conditions has the expected enhancement

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in durability.


The PhD candidate will work on both the experimentaland modelling parts of the project ReSHEALience, withthe aim of validating the numerical model against theexperimental results concerning the mechanicalcharacterization and the durability-performanceassessment, so to possibly formulate a simplifiedanalytical approach to be integrated in Standards. Thegeneral framework is represented by aging anddegradation assessment in UHDC and prediction of itsservice-life under EAE conditions. The experimental partis mainly focused on direct and indirect tensile tests inordinary and aggressive environment, with followingmonitoring of durability evolution. On the other hand, thenumerical model is based on a multi-physics approachwhich links the effects of chemical reactions, transport ofions, diffusion of moisture and heat, in cracked and un-cracked concrete conditions, with corrosion and damageinitiation and propagation. The developed numerical toolwill be employed also to simulate the behaviour of realstructures in service conditions.


The doctor of philosophy at the end of his studies willhave the necessary intellectual tools and technical skills totake on careers of leadership in the development of newtechnologies, construction of innovative and sustainableinfrastructure, the design of engineered systems, and tocontribute to society through participation in policy makingand governance.

Job opportunities

A graduate from this PhD degree track can easily go on totop jobs as engineer, faculty member at top universities,engineer consultant, leader for non-governmentalorganizations, and even start his own company.



Name of the research directors Liberato Ferrara

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Contacts

[email protected]





Educational activities (purchase of study books and material, funding for participation to courses,summer schools, workshops and conferences): The Ph.D. course supports the educationalactivities of its Ph.D. students with an additional funding equal to 10% of the scholarship, startingfrom the second year. In some cases, students will be allowed to use part of this funding also inthe first year.

Teaching assistanship (availability of funding in recognition of support to teaching activities by thePhD student): Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply, upon prior authorization, to the calls tosupport teaching activities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, being paid forthat. The teaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of themdevoted to teaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.

Computer availability and desk availability: Each Ph.D. student has his/her own computer forindividual use.Each Ph.D. student has his/her own desk, cabinet and locker.

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Research Field: FIRE SAFETY OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE





In the last years, fire safety has become a major concernfor a variety of civil structures. Within this framework,concrete structures stand out for a number of peculiarities,ranging from the very complex thermo-mechanicalphenomena taking place in the material upon heating, tothe highly non-linear structural behaviour in fireconditions. As a matter of fact, the severe conditions thatcharacterize real fires caused a number of unexpectedfailures of concrete structures, and thus fostered the needfor further research.

The main research topics in this field are the following:a) investigation on actual fires, in order to highlight theadvantages and shortcomings of the current approachesavailable for modelling fire scenarios;b) advanced experimental techniques to accuratelycharacterize the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour ofconcrete upon heating and subsequent cooling;c) experimental investigations on small structuralspecimens exposed to heating, in order to set-upinnovative testing techniques that are less demandingthan full-scale tests;d) numerical simulations on the behaviour of concretestructures subjected to heating and subsequent cooling.


a) Numerical codes for the simulation of the fire scenario;b) Experimental techniques to characterize material

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properties, and to investigate the structural behaviour ofsmall structural specimens;c) 2D and 3D numerical codes for the simulation of thestructural behaviour in fire conditions.


The Ph.D. student is expected to develop multi-disciplinary skills, that will allow him/her to communicatewith researchers from different related fields.

Job opportunities

The most direct career opportunities offered by thisresearch field are within large engineering firms andconsulting companies, where specific task groups aredevoted to fire engineering; however, employment inresearch institutions (universities, public or privateresearch centres) is also possible.



Name of the research directors Roberto Felicetti, Patrick Bamonte

Contacts

Roberto Felicetti: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4388Patrick Bamonte: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4288

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchCSTB - Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment, Marne-La-Vallée, FranceBRE - Centre for Fire Safety Engineering - University of Edinburgh, United KingdomCTG-Italcementi, Bergamo, ItalyCivil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, USA

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EMPA, Zurich, Switzerland





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Research Field: LIFE-CYCLE PERFORMANCE OF BRIDGES AND STRUCTURES





The aim of this research project is extending/optimizingthe lifetime of bridges and structures experiencingdamage due to material degradation (caused e.g. bycorrosion), extreme events (e.g. earthquakes) or heavysustained and repeated loads (e.g. high stress andfatigue).

The following topics may be selected by the candidate:a) residual lifetime of concrete structures under corrosion;b) methodologies and procedures for life-cycle analysis,design, and optimization of bridges and civil structures,including maintenance planning and decommissioning;c) assessment of lifetime seismic performance ofstructures and infrastructure systems;d) behavior and modeling of damaged cables;e) assessment of residual load bearing capacity of bridgessuspended by damaged cables.


Topics (a, b, c) will include criteria and methods for themodeling of damage effects in corroded structures andnumerical implementation, using both in-housespecialized programs and commercial finite elementcodes. These topics will focus on performance-basedtechniques for lifetime assessment and optimization ofbridges and structures.The attainment of the objectives (d, e) will require boththeoretical modeling of corroded wires/ropes/cables and

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numerical non-linear analysis of systems suspended bycorroded cables.


The proposed research activities are multi-disciplinary andinvolves several research fields, such as mechanics ofmaterials and structures, material degradation processes,structural safety and reliability, risk analysis, structuralrobustness and seismic resilience, among others. A solidknowledge and expertise in the fields of nonlinearmechanics of materials, structural analysis methods,applied chemistry, statistics and probability are requested.

Job opportunities

Job opportunities are available in companies involved inthe design and retrofitting of bridges and buildings and inpublic authorities involved in life-cycle assessment andoptimization of structures and infrastructure networks.



Name of the research directors Fabio Biondini, Pier Giorgio Malerba

Contacts

Fabio Biondini: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4394Pier Giorgio Malerba: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4397

http://www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchLehigh University, Bethlehem, USATechnical University of Catalunya, Barcelona, SpainWaseda University, Tokyo, Japan

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University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic


Teaching assistanship Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply upon prior authorization to the calls to support teachingactivities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, and they are paid for that.Teaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted toteaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.



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Research Field: MICRO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND MICROMECHANICS





Micro- and Nano- Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS,NEMS) studying, designing, testing and numericalmodelling is quite demanding, since MEMS and NEMSare highly sophisticated devices, where electronics iscoupled with mechanical parts, in order to create micro-and nano-sensors, micro- and nano-actuators, as well asmicro-fluidic devices. MEMS are commonly used inautomotive, aerospace and consumer-orientedengineering. Other fields are now taking advantage ofthese devices, like structural engineering, where MEMSstart being used for monitoring and self-actuation andbiomedical engineering. Strictly related to the field ofMEMS are issues linked to micromechanics of materialsand structures.


MEMS-oriented research needs a highly multi-disciplinaryapproach and a deep knowledge of the fundamentals ofphysics, mechanics and electronics, as well as a certainfamiliarity with todays sophisticated techniques fornumerical modelling and simulations.


Since the proposed research project is highly multi-disciplinary, the candidate will have the opportunity tocollaborate with a number of laboratories and researchgroups either in the Department of Civil andEnvironmental Engineering or in other Departments of the

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Politecnico di Milano, in industries and in internationalresearch centers. He/she will acquire specializedknowledge on MEMS and their related research fields, likemicromechanics and microfabrication.

Job opportunities

Direct employment in MEMS- and NEMS-researchcenters and industries in Europe and all-over the world.Job opportunities in other fields, where experts in multi-physics problems, micro-mechanics, testing andcomputational methods, advanced structural monitoringare requested.



Name of the research directors Alberto Corigliano, Attilio Frangi

Contacts

Alberto Corigliano: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4244Attilio Frangi: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4213

www.dica.polimi.itwww.mems.polimi.itwww.mems3d.polimi.itwww.lab4mems.upb.rowww.lab4mems2.ite.waw.pl





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchSTMicroelectronics - www.st.comEniac funded project Lab4MEMS - http://www.lab4mems.upb.ro/Eniac funded project Lab4MEMS II - http://www.lab4mems2.ite.waw.pl/IMEC - www.imec.beMassachusetts Institute of Technology - web.mit.edu/

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BSAC - Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center - http://www-bsac.eecs.berkeley.edu/





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Research Field: SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES





Sensors and actuators can be conveniently embeddedinto composites to design smart structures, able to self-detect possible local failures or to react in real time tochanging environmental conditions. Smart materials areinstead optimized in their microstructure to tailor theirstiffness, strength, toughness, and then better withstandthe external loadings. Functionally graded and ionicpolymer-metal composites will be adopted in the foreseenexperimental activities.


Computational mechanics: multi-physics approach tomodel the sensing and actuation processes and thecoupled materials behaviour.Experimental mechanics: embedding sensors intocomposite plates to build self-sensing, smart structures.


The research field is across materials and structuralengineering. Hence, Ph.D. students are expected todevelop a multidisciplinary approach to the problem.

Job opportunities

Due to the very research-oriented goal of the project,direct employment in research centers or agencies and incompanies all-over the world.

Composition of the research group1 Full Professors1 Associated Professors3 Assistant Professors

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2 PhD StudentsName of the research directors Stefano Mariani

Contacts

Stefano Mariani: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4279

www.dica.polimi.itwww.mems.polimi.itwww.saferhelmets.eu





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchInstitute of New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, USAEADS Innovation Works, LeidenMcGill University, MontrealISIS Sensorial Material Scientific Centre, University of Bremen, Bremen Università La Sapienza, Rome





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Research Field: SOIL MECHANICS, GEOTECHNICAL STRUCTURES AND GEOTECHNICAL

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING





This research field encompasses a wide variety of topicsrelated to the response of soils, foundations andgeotechnical structures, with special emphasis to:- advanced constitutive modelling of soil materials;- underground structures;- slope stability and landslide risk assessment;- investigation of the role of nonlinear dynamic soil-structure interaction on the seismic response ofstructures;- numerical approaches to study seismic wavepropagation from the seismic source to the structure, withspecial regard to shallow soil layers;- seismic actions for design.


- Macroelement constitutive approaches for shallow/deepfoundations- Small scale experimental testing- 2D and 3D numerical codes for seismic wavepropagation in the linear and nonlinear range- Analytical and numerical methods for nonlinear soil-structure interaction analyses- Advanced processing of strong motion records

Educational objectives The Ph.D. student is expected to develop multi-disciplinary skills, that will allow him/her to communicate

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with researchers and professionals from different relatedfields, such as civil engineers, geologists, seismologists.

Job opportunities

The most direct career opportunities offered by thisresearch field are within research institutions (universities,public or private research centers), large engineeringfirms and consulting companies.



Name of the research directors C. di Prisco, R. Paolucci

Contacts

Claudio di Prisco: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4298Roberto Paolucci: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4353

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchDelft University of Technology, The Netherlands - www.tudelft.nlEucentre, Pavia, Italy - http://www.eucentre.itIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Italy - http://www.ingv.itRELUIS - http://www.reluis.itAristotle University of Thessaloniky, Greece (prof. K. Pitilakis) - http://www.auth.gr

Educational activitiesThe Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, studentswill be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year.

Teaching assistanshipPh.D. students are encouraged to apply upon prior authorization to the calls to support teaching

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activities at the undegraduate and Master levels at Politecnico, and they are paid for that. Theteaching assistantship will be limited up to about 80 hours, maximum half of them devoted toteaching and classroom activities and the rest to support classworks and exams.

Computer availabilityEach Ph.D. student has his/her own computer for individual use.

Desk availabilityEach Ph.D. student has his/her own desk, cabinet and locker.

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Research Field: STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF BUILT HERITAGE





The research program deals with the engineering ofconservation of existing structures with a focus on thestructural analysis of architectural heritage. In detail, thestudy of built heritage is a multi-disciplinary approach,which considers surveying, monitoring, diagnosticinvestigation, structural analysis, experimental tests, non-linear computer modelling, repairing and strengtheningtechniques, etc.

The research project will take into account the estimationof residual life and assessment of concrete, masonry andiron or steel existing structures affected by damage due toaging, degradation of the material (for example caused byaggressive environment) and hazard events (such asearthquakes and landslides), with the aim of developing amethodology in terms of safety, reliability and cost toevaluate and compare different scenarios of maintenanceand/or rehabilitation and their applicability on civil orindustrial existing constructions. The focus will be onbuildings of cultural value, included constructions of the50's, which are already suffering from different levels ofdamage.


The following topics can be chosen by the candidate forher/his thesis:a) laboratory experimental research on materialcharacteristics and constitutive laws;

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b) experimental research and calibration of different NonDestructive Techniques (NDT);c) modeling of the material deterioration;d) modeling of material and structural behavior duringhazardous events;e) assessment of residual lifetime of deterioratedstructures;f) assessment of vulnerability of existing buildings inseismic area (e.g. historical centers).


The candidate will increase her/his expertise in the fieldsof nonlinear mechanics of materials, structural analysis,applied chemistry, statistics and probability, NDTmethods, etc.

Job opportunities

The programme will open up job opportunities both asresearcher within research institutions (universities,research centers) and as field engineer or architect inprivate companies involved in design and rehabilitation.



Name of the research directors Cardani, Coronelli, Garavaglia, Petrini, Zanzi

Contacts

Giuliana Cardani: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4204Dario Coronelli: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4395Elsa Garavaglia: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4284Lorenza Petrini: [email protected] tel. +39 02 2399 4307

www.dica.polimi.it





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List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchWaseda University, Tokyo, JapanTechnical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainThe Pennsylvania State University, USAUniversity of Minho, PortugalUniversité Catholique de Louvain, BelgiumUniversity of Padua, ItalyRELUIS (http://ww.reluis.it), Italy





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Research Field: THEORETICAL MODELLING AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISATION OF

BIOMATERIALS





Several surgical procedures devoted to the solution ofhealth issues require a personalized treatment: it is forinstance the case of small-scale interventions concerningsensorial organs (eye and ear), replacement of heartvalves, or insertion of arterial stents. As experimentaltesting is impossible, the customization of surgicaltreatments can only be achieved through numericalmodelling, that requires the knowledge of the individualgeometry and the characterization of the individualphysical properties through inverse analysis procedures.Whilst modern imaging systems (MRI, PET scan, CATscan, SGH, OCT) have reached a high level of accuracyand can provide fully tridimensional geometry of theorgan, the customization of the material model still needsto be developed and requires further deep and intenseinvestigations. Strongly coupled to other physicalprocesses in biology and medicine mechanics, hydro-chemo-electric coupling is often fundamental to explainthe behaviour of the tissue.The creation of a numerical model for biotissues andorgans requires the definition of a suitable material model,able to account for the underlying micro- and nano-structure, and the personalized characterization of itsmechanical and physical properties, to be achieved bymeans of in-vivo non-destructive testing. At the sametime, the optimization of mini-invasive treatments requires

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an accurate study of the interaction between device andtissue as well as a deep knowledge of the device materialproperties.The objective of this research project is to improve theknowledge on the relationships between the micro-structure of biomaterials and tissues and their physicalbehaviour, with the aim of providing a support topersonalized surgery.


Experimental as well as numerical methods will be used.Collaborations with the Department of Chemistry,Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta" ofPolitecnico di Milano (Proff. Boschetti, Migliavacca andRodriguez) have already been established to support theresearch with the necessary laboratory equipment.


The proposed research field has a large potential foreducational objectives thanks to the multidisciplinarynature of its topics. Furthermore, the educationalopportunities offered by Politecnico di Milano in the fieldsof biomechanics and material engineering will widen thebasic knowledge of the Ph.D. students.

Job opportunities

A large number of the most recent Ph.D.s with a researchexperience on the above-mentioned topics are nowholding R&D positions in a few companies well known inthe field of bio-engineering and bio-materials.



Name of the research directors Gabriella Bolzon, Anna Pandolfi, Lorenza Petrini

Contacts

Gabriella Bolzon: [email protected], tel. +39 02 2399 4319Anna Pandolfi: [email protected], tel. +39 02 2399 4217Lorenza Petrini: [email protected], tel. +39 02 2399 4307

www.dica.polimi.it

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List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and/or National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchStanford University, CA - USAUniversity College Dublin, IrelandUniversity of Zaragoza, SpainUniversity of Salerno, ItalyUniversity of Liverpool, UKUniversity of Oxford, UKUniversità di Genova, ItalyCalifornia Institute of Technology, CA - USA





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Research Field: TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN





Topology optimization is a powerful design tool with abroad range of applications in many branches ofengineering. Given a design domain, prescribed loadsand boundary conditions, topology optimization searchesfor the distribution of material that minimizes an objectivefunction (maximizes a target performance), subject to aprescribed set of constraints.Most of the conventional formulations of topologyoptimization deal with the minimization of the structuralcompliance (maximization of the structural stiffness),without enforcing any additional requirement concerninge.g. strength and fatigue of the material, buckling modes,structural behaviour under dynamic loads.Aim of this research is the formulation of comprehensiveapproaches of topology optimization to cope with designproblems arising in the field of structural engineering.Examples are the conceptual design of bracing systemsfor high-rise buildings and the achievement of the optimaldistribution and orientation of fiber-reinforcement layers tostrengthen existing structures.


Structural mechanics and computational mechanicsprovide theoretical methods and numerical tools toinvestigate optimal solutions for structural problems. Inparticular, anisotropic bodies and linear elastic no-tension/no-compression materials will be dealt with. Thearising multi-constrained minimization problems will be

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solved through ad hoc methods of mathematicalprogramming.


Ph.D. students are expected to develop new approachesand tools to address the conceptual design of structuresand structural components.

Job opportunities

Increasing attention is being directed to the adoption oftopology optimization in civil engineering and architecture.International firms involved in these fields, as well asresearch centers and R&D departments in companies, areexpected to be interested in the skills developed duringthis research.



Name of the research directors Matteo Bruggi, Alberto Taliercio

Contacts

Matteo Bruggi: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4232Alberto Taliercio: [email protected] - tel. +39 02 2399 4241

www.dica.polimi.it





List of Universities, Companies, Agencies and National or International Institutions thatare cooperating in the researchUniversity of Liège, BelgiumBudapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

Educational activities The Ph.D. course supports the educational activities of its Ph.D. students with an additionalfunding equal to 10% of the scholarship, starting from the second year. In some cases, students

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will be allowed to use part of this funding also in the first year.




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phd in ingegneria strutturale, sismica, geotecnica / … · coupling is an inherent feature of the...

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