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Short Description

The Structural Mechanics Laboratory advances the theory and application of structural engineering, focusing on structural and geotechnical design of infrastructure projects and on construction-materials technology. With particular emphasis on reinforced concrete, advanced construction materials, and geotechnical materials, the laboratory combines pioneering research, high-quality education, and specialized technical services, helping to deliver safe, resilient, and sustainable structures for the benefit of society and industry.

The Laboratory is equipped with advanced apparatus for experimental testing, covering both the determination of the mechanical properties of structural and geotechnical materials and the investigation of the mechanical response of structural elements and systems under static and dynamic loading. Core equipment includes: Concrete compression and bending hydraulic presses, A steel tensile-testing machine, Data loggers for monitoring and recording pressure and deformation, Non-destructive testing equipment. The research team—comprising faculty members, laboratory staff, post-doctoral researchers, and doctoral candidates—collaborates with international universities, government agencies, and industry partners through funded projects. Recent research activities focus on the mechanical behaviour of reinforced concrete members and elements strengthened with fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), the development of new models describing the behaviour and strength of innovative composite materials using advanced mechanics theories; and the design of novel experimental methods for identifying the mechanical parameters required for the strengthening of existing structures with modern materials. Research outcomes are published in leading international journals and feed directly into current design standards.

Education

The Laboratory supports instruction in the following courses offered by the School of Rural and Surveying Engineering – Geoinformatics (ATM-MG): Engineering Mechanics, Design of Reinforced-Concrete Structures, Construction Materials – Infrastructure Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Soil Mechanics. Each year the Laboratory supervises a considerable number of undergraduate diploma theses on topics such as the design of reinforced-concrete structures, the strengthening and repair of existing constructions, the analysis and design of geotechnical works, and the mechanical behaviour of materials. Doctoral dissertations are likewise conducted in cutting-edge areas aligned with the Laboratory’s expertise, including the development of theoretical and experimental models for the safe application of innovative materials in reinforced-concrete construction, and the determination of equivalent properties of composite materials within micro- and nano-mechanical frameworks.

Research

Analysis and design of structural systems made of reinforced concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and advanced composite materials. Development and application of numerical methods (FEM, DEM, etc.) for modelling structural systems and geotechnical works. Experimental and computational investigation of the mechanical behaviour of concrete elements reinforced with steel bars or FRP. Design and evaluation of strengthening and repair systems for existing structures using innovative materials. Development of in-situ deformation-monitoring techniques and structural health-monitoring (SHM) programmes for civil works. Multiscale study of the mechanical behaviour of construction materials, from the nano- and micro- to the macro-scale.