Ph.D. programme in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department

DISEG - Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico of Turin

Main research activities/topics/projects

We invite highly motivated and talented candidates to join our research team for a mobility period of a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 12 months. Our research activities focus on advancing methodologies in the fields of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Vibration-Based Inspection (VBI), Structural Dynamics, and System Identification, with a special attention to Digital Twin Development and Bridge Management and Maintenance Platforms. 

 By way of example, the ongoing activities include, but are not limited to:

• Performing system identification to understand and model the dynamic behavior of structures from their vibrational response.
• Developing AI-based algorithms for automated (unsupervised) damage detection, localization, and quantification.
• Analyzing data to predict the remaining service life of structural components.
• Integrating the real-time monitored data with advanced simulation models directly into online platforms and digital twins.
• Developing predictive maintenance strategies using the developed data-driven AI models and digital twins.

 An example of similar bridge case studies can be found at https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ 

 As part of our team, candidates will have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing projects that address critical challenges in civil infrastructure in the framework of the recently established Italian National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (CN MOST), where Politecnico di Torino leads the Spoke 7 Work Package 4 “resilience of networks, structural health monitoring and asset management”.

The working language of the research team, which already include international students (also from South America), is primarily English.

Working language

 English

Special entry requirements

Good knowledge of Matlab, Pyhton, and/or other similar software.

Good knowledge of SAP 2000, Ansys, and/or other similar FEM commercial software.

Previous knowledge about Structural Mechanics, Dynamics of Structures, and Vibration-Based Structural Health Monitoring.

Duration in months (min-max)

PhD sandwich: 6 -12

Post Doc: 6 -12