Filippo Balzano is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Bologna (Italy), where he is serving as a researcher at the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering. He obtained both of his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Civil Engineering at the Università della Calabria (Italy), where he specialized in Road Pavement Construction and Maintenance.
His field of expertise lies in the development of new technologies for the assessment and for validation of innovative compounds, which aim to reduce the need of energy and virgin materials in the Transport Engineering activities. In light of this, the use of recycled materials and low impact solutions are of primary importance in his researches.
He is acting as co-supervisor for Bachelor and Master Degrees students in the DICAM department of University of Bologna, with his last coordinated thesis titled “Caratterizzazione di trattamenti bituminosi ultrasottili per applicazioni manutentive a caldo di sovrastrutture impermeabili su paramenti idraulici inclinati” in September 2023.
He is the author and co-author of papers for international academic journals, with his last publication titled “Microtexture performance of EAF slags used as aggregate in asphalt mixes: A comparative study with surface properties of natural stones” for “MDPI - Applied Science” in 2019.
He has been a speaker at “PFDM – International Symposium Pavement Functional Design and Management” of Guimaraes (Portugal) in 2023, where he achieved the award as the best young researcher of the category “Surface layer materials”.
Education
2022 | Master Degree in “Civil Engineering – Transport Specialization” in July, 14th at l’UNIVERSITA’ DELLA CALABRIA, Via Pietro Bucci – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy with a final grade of 110/110 cum laude.
Thesis in “Design and maintenance of road surperstructures” with the title “Il modulo di rigidezza per l’analisi dinamica delle performance meccaniche dei conglomerati bituminosi: Indagine sperimentale”, supervisor Prof. Rosolino Vaiana
2018 | Bachelor Degree in “Civil Engineering” in November, 29th at l’UNIVERSITA’ DELLA CALABRIA, Via Pietro Bucci – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Thesis in “Roads construction” with the title “Implementazione e validazione di un modello previsionale dell’attitudine alla levigazione di aggregati lapidei ad uso stradale: Indagine sperimentale”, supervisor Prof. Rosolino Vaiana
Experiences and awards
Sep. 2023 | Speaker at “XIX International SIIV Summer School” held at the Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Goffredo Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy with a speech titled “Laboratory assessment of microsurfacing bonding: characterization of the application surface and Leutner shear testing”
Apr. 2023 | Award as best young researcher in the category “Surface layer materials” at “PDFM 2023 – Pavement Functional Design and Management” held at the University of Minho, Av. da Universidade, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Apr. 2023 | Speaker at “PDFM 2023 – Pavement Functional Design and Management” held at the University of Minho, Av. da Universidade, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal with a speech titled “Laboratory assessment of microsurfacing bonding: characterization of the application surface and Leutner shear testing”
Nov. 2017/Feb. 2018 | Curricular internship at “Laboratorio di ricerca ed analisi su materiali da costruzione strutture e terre Geo.Cal. srl”, Contrada Lecco 12 – 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Thesis
Mar. 2023 | Master Degree in “Ingegneria per l’Ambiente e il Territorio” titled “Membrane bituminose multifunzionali sottili per paramenti idraulici: miglioramento delle prestazioni meccaniche in climi caldi” – G.C.
Sep. 2023 | Master Degree in “Ingegneria per l’Ambiente e il Territorio” titled “Caratterizzazione di trattamenti bituminosi ultrasottili per applicazioni manutentive a caldo di sovrastrutture impermeabili su paramenti idraulici inclinati” – R.S.
Mar. 2023 | Master Degree in “Civil Engineering” titled “Laboratory assessment of microsurfacing bonding strength using the Leutner shear test” – S.A.K.
Affiliations
2024 | SIIV Juniores member
2023 | RILEM Istitutional staff member of DICAM
