1. Digital Twins and Data-Informed Modeling of Historical Structures
Development of ontology-driven frameworks for structural digital twins of heritage buildings, integrating multi-source data (point clouds, monitoring, FEM results) into a unified, traceable, and interpretable pipeline.
2. Computational Geometry from Point Clouds for Structural Analysis
Automatic extraction of structural information from point clouds, including profile recognition, adaptive mesh generation, and geometric abstraction for direct use in finite element modeling.
3. Advanced Modeling of Masonry Structures under Seismic Actions
Development of computational models for masonry structures, including equivalent frame models, block-based approaches, and hybrid formulations to capture nonlinear behavior and failure mechanisms under seismic loading.
4. Hybrid and Multi-Scale FEM Frameworks
Design of integrated modeling strategies combining beam, continuum, and polyhedral (VEM) elements to efficiently represent complex structural systems derived from real geometries.
5. Finite Element Method Advancements and Open-Source Implementation
Development of advanced FEM formulations (plasticity, damage, cohesive interfaces, VEM) with a focus on robust numerical implementation in open-source environments (e.g., Julia/FinEtools).
6. Data-Driven and Explainable Structural Modeling
Integration of machine learning and statistical methods (e.g., ARIMA, regression models) for structural prediction and monitoring, with emphasis on model interpretability (feature importance, SHAP) and reliability.
7. Multi-Physics Modeling of Degradation Processes in Porous Materials
Investigation of coupled thermo-hygro-mechanical processes, including salt crystallization, and their effects on long-term degradation of masonry and building materials.
8. Sustainable and Bio-Based Construction Materials
Experimental and numerical characterization of eco-sustainable materials derived from recycled or natural resources, with applications to energy efficiency and structural performance.
