The group
The research group of Structural Engineering (ICAR09) is present in the Department since the early years of its establishment and it is active in the field of teaching and research. Regarding accademic coures, the group offers both basic training courses (Structural Design) and others more specialized courses, aimed at illustrating both theoretical and practical aspects applied in the field of civil engineering (Theory and Design of RC Structures; Design of Steel and Wood Structures, Structural Rehabilitation, Earthquake Engineering Bridges). The educational offer is therefore aimed at providing the necessary skills for structural design, main point within the cultural formation of each Civil Engineer.
About research activity, the many works published both nationally and internationally sharpen the fulfilment of the activity carried out in the scientific area of structural engineering.
Over the years, the Group has strengthened the Material Testing Laboratory Pietro Pisa where activities in support of teaching, research and certification are carried out.
Research activity
The main research activities include experimental, numerical and theoretical works on structural elements, materials for construction (concrete, timber, steel, innovative cement based materials). Over the last twenty years, the group of Structural Engineering of the University of Brescia has focused the research on the structural rehabilitation of historical and modern buildings. Current structural research includes analytical, numerical and experimental work on reinforced concrete structures, timber structures, steel structures and masonry structures, also including the seismic behavior of structures, the seismic assessment of existing structures and their retrofitting and upgrading.
Diagnostic investigations and study of techniques have been developed for the conservation and recovery of monumental building. New research activity has recently started to assess the bearing capacity of the existing bridges and to develop strengthening techniques.
The mechanical properties of materials and the behavior of structural elements are investigated through intensive laboratory activities.
Some more specific topics of current and planned research include the following:
Structural Rehabilitation:
wooden box-like covering and reinforcement truss; connections between different materials (steel and concrete, masonry, dowels, anchors); repair of wooden beams with glued or nailed prosthesis; strengthening of masonry walls by nano-reinforced fibrous mortar coating; structural retrofit of modern buildings by means of "engineered" double skin façade; retrofitting of RC element with high performance concrete jacket; engineered masonry infill walls for post-earthquake structural damage control.
Earthquake Engineering:
Research topics refer to the study of seismic behavior in different structural types like new construction and historic building; specific studies are carried out for the repair of churches damaged by the earthquake; seismic vulnerability for churches in association with transverse arch rocking; buckling restrained steel braces; X braced steel frames; shear and bending behavior of mansonry; response of timber shear walls.
Innovative materials:
Mechanical characterization testing and both numerical and analytical modeling of structural elements made by innovative composite cement in fiber reinforced concrete (FRC); simulation of precast segments for tunnel construction; use of fiber reinforced plastic composites for new construction and repair; shrinkage of HPFRC; reinforcement optimization of fiber reinforced concrete linings for conventional tunnels; cracking behavior in reinforced concrete members with steel fibers; bond and lapped splices.
Keywords
- Reinforced Concrete Structures,
- Masonry structures,
- Steel Structures,
- Timber Structures,
- Rehabilitation,
- Seismic Engineering,
- High Performance materials,
- Tunnels.
ERC sectors
- PE8_3 - Civil engineering, architecture, maritime/hydraulic engineering, geotechnics, waste treatment
- PE8_4 - Computational engineering
People
Antonio Conforti
Luca Facconi
Ezio Pilar Giuriani
Egidio Marchina
Giovanni Metelli
Fausto Minelli
Giovanni Plizzari
Marco Preti
Adriano Reggia
Giuseppe Tiberti
Websites
Link to the website of the group of Stuctural Engineering
Link to the webpage of the group on the site expertise.unibs.it
.