coordinator: Salvatore Russo

scientific committee

Università Iuav di Venezia

Daniele Baraldi, Luisa Berto, Antonella Cecchi, Salvatore Russo, Anna Saetta, Diego Alejandro Talledo

other universities

Luigi Di Sarno (Università del Sannio di Benevento)

experts

Giosuè Boscato

PhD students

Jacopo Baldelli, Bensu Berk, Gianluca Bottin, Alberto Bretini, Mila Cvetković, Hamid Imani Moghaddam, Francesca Pasqual, Leila Ranjbarlari, Nandini Priya Thatikonda

PhD students with Iuav grants in doctoral courses of national interest

Gianluca Spironelli - Università degli studi di Roma “La Sapienza”

Scientific research in this area aims to provide PhD students with specific skills in the structural design of new and existing buildings, especially those of historical interest, innovation issues, crisis areas and climate change.

The main study topics include material modelling, portions of structure, macro elements and structure, experimentation, seismic improvement, the use of latest-generation structural materials as well as traditional techniques.

In addition, the study programme covers safety assessment, risk assessment and risk reduction for both existing and new buildings in relation to natural hazards, with an integrated approach to the challenges of hazard definition, the assessment of the behaviour of existing buildings, and minimisation of intervention, and the selection of structural systems for new buildings to prevent the effects of such hazards. The survey methodologies mentioned earlier are extended to address safety and risk reduction related to natural events, including building envelopes, durability, and resilience.

Regarding the specific teaching and research activities that complement the transversal training provided by the Bembo Writing Workshop, the study programme in 'Structural challenges' is indicatively structured as follows:

1. In the first year, students attend university-level courses in structural, diagnostic, seismic, and dynamic modelling. For admission to the second year, they are required to undertake theoretical and/or practical research, attend conferences, and may have the opportunity to undertake research activities abroad

2. In the second year, students acquire and consolidate the necessary knowledge and information to draft their PhD thesis. In particular, the knowledge gained from attending university courses, workshops, and research recommended by the tutors is implemented. For admission to the third year, students are required to complete their research activities, conclude any research periods abroad, and prepare their thesis

3. The third year should focus on defining and highlighting the characteristics of the PhD thesis, particularly the innovative aspects by leveraging the benefits of studying abroad and comparing physical and numerical experimentation.

It is also recommended that PhD students attend the Labsco lab, as it is closely related to structural issues concerning materials, structural elements, and structures.

Additionally, it is beneficial for PhD students to engage in publication activities, including participation in national and international conferences, with guidance from individual tutors.

PhD students are expected to be proficient in managing the most used structural calculation programs and platforms to enhance their confidence and learning in this field.

As for further activities, the following are also proposed every year:

- conferences and seminars held by Italian and international professors of Science and Technology of Construction. These activities are a moment of in-depth study for PhD students on structural issues that are the subject of research at national and international levels

- the seminar series entitled 'Programming in Python for Scientific Research' is delivered in the area of 'Technological and Environmental Design', and attendance is highly recommended.