Structural Engineering / Earthquake Engineering

Department

Department of Structural, Building and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG) – Politecnico di Torino

Main research activities/topics/projects

The research activities for this focus on advancing engineering methodologies and computational techniques aimed at improving the sustainability, safety, and reliability of built environments. The work is centered around three key areas:

1. Optimization for Sustainable Retrofitting: The candidate will engage in developing and refining optimization techniques for the sustainable retrofitting of existing structures. This involves integrating advanced computational methods with environmental and economic considerations to enhance the energy efficiency, durability, and overall sustainability of buildings and infrastructures.
2. Seismic Risk and Reliability Using Reduced Order Models: The research will involve creating and applying reduced order models (ROMs) for seismic risk assessment and structural reliability analysis. ROMs will be developed to accurately simulate complex dynamic behavior under seismic loads, reducing computational costs while maintaining predictive accuracy, thereby allowing for more efficient risk assessment and decision-making processes.
3. Refined Micro-Modelling of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Structures: The candidate will work on the refinement of micro-modelling techniques for reinforced concrete and masonry structures. These models aim to capture intricate behaviors at the material and structural levels, with the goal of defining new and improved capacity models. The research will focus on better understanding the response of these structures under various loading conditions, contributing to the development of safer and more resilient building practices.

Overall, these activities are intended to contribute to the evolution of sustainable and resilient structural engineering practices, with applications that range from seismic retrofitting to enhancing the performance of new and existing structures.

Working language

 English or Italian

Special entry requirements

Adequate experience on Finite element analysis and modelling, knowledge of earthquake engineering and dynamic principles, Coding base experience il scientific programming languages such as Python or Matlab

Duration in months (min-max)

PhD sandwich: 4-12

Post Doc: 4-12