DIST

The Department is involved in a number of theoretic and experimental research activities dealing with the mechanics of materials and structures, structural engineering, structural dynamics, seismic vulnerability and risk, structural reliability, fire resistance of structures, analysis of traditional materials and structures, composites and innovative materials and structural systems for application in architecture and civil, industrial, biomechanical and materials engineering.

The department hosts the PhD Program in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering and Seismic Risk (DISGES) that involves different scientific sectors with multidisciplinary approach, offering to the students a program with solid physic-mathematical bases and advanced knowledge of the scientific aspects useful for the evaluation, monitoring and mitigation of risks, both natural and anthropic, with particular emphasis on seismic risk.

Research output (2011-2013)

Data on the research output of the Department are extracted from the 2011-2013 Research activities Review (SUA-RD)

Staff

Data on the Department Staff is taken from the institutional website of the Italian Ministry of University and Research

Research projects

EUROPEAN PROJECTS

  • EQUALJOINTS European pre-QUALified steel JOINTS is financed in the framework of  European Research fund for Coal and Steel. This research project is concerned with the pre-qualification of all-steel Beam-to-Column joints in steel structures and it is aimed at introducing a codified practice currently missing in Europe. Coordinator: Raffaele Landolfo
  • ELISSA (Energy Efficient LIghtweight-Sustainable-SAfe-Steel Construction) - this research project is funded within the "7th Framework programme". It targets the development and diffusion of modular cold-formed steel systems. The investigated systems are dry, lightweight and prefabricated systems that exhibit high performance against thermal insulation, seismic action, and in terms of vibration control and fire resistance. The analysis of the different performances was carried out through extensive experimental and numerical activities organized at micro, meso and macro scale. Coordinator of UNINA research unit: Raffaele Landolfo
  • FREEDAM - this European research project funded by "Research fund for Coal and Steel" aims at developing innovative steel beam-to-column connections able to withstand the seismic events without damage ("Free From Damage Connections"); such innovative beam-to-column connections are equipped with friction dampers which are located at the bottom flange level of the connected beam to dissipate the earthquake input energy. Coordinator of UNINA research unit: Raffaele Landolfo
  • Equaljoints PLUS - is a dissemination project funded by “Research fund for Coal and Steel”; the main goal of the project is to valorize and promote the seismic prequalification criteria for steel beam-to-column joints developed within the recently accomplished European research project Equaljoints. Workshops and seminars will be organized in the own-countries of partners involved in the project as well as in non-European countries, devoted to disseminate knowledge and distribute collected and produced material to the scientific community as well as designers, constructors and steel companies. Coordinator: Raffaele Landolfo
  • INNO3DJOINTS - is an European research project funded by “Research fund for Coal and Steel”. The main goal of INNO3DJOINTS is to develop innovative plug-and-play joints for hybrid tubular construction, whereby tubular columns are combined with cold-formed lightweight steel profiles to provide a highly efficient structural system. Coordinator of  UNINA research unit: Raffaele Landolfo
  • SBRIplus - is an European project funded by “Research fund for Coal and Steel” devoted to the valorization and dissemination of scientific results and knowledge developed within the previous RFCS research project SBRI “Sustainable Steel-Composite Bridges in Built Environment”. Within such project, a holistic approach was applied to steel-composite bridges by combining analyses of environmental, economic and functional qualities along the entire life-cycle of bridges. Coordinator of  UNINA research unit: Raffaele Landolfo
  • INNOSEIS: is an European project funded by “Research fund for Coal and Steel” devoted to the valorization and dissemination actions for 12 innovative anti-seismic devices will be undertaken. The devices were recently developed in the frame of RFCS, EU and national research projects by the partners involved in the project. Information documents for all devices will be produced for dissemination to all partners of the construction sector such as Architects, structural Engineers, construction companies, steel producers and all potential decision makers of the construction sector. Coordinator of  UNINA research unit: Raffaele Landolfo

PON (Public-Private national programmes)

  • METROPOLIS The Metropolis Project aims at defining methodologies and sustainable, innovative technologies to assess and manage natural and man-caused hazards in urban environment. It also aims at outlining mitigation strategies based on Decision Support Systems tools. Coordinator: Gerardo Verderame
  • METRICS The Metrics Project aims at industrial research and development of technologies to improve sustainability and safety in Historical Districts of towns. The project deals with both single, historical buildings and historical districts and develops solutions which always take into account the town fabric and allow to increase structural safety of buildings and infrastructures and therefore improve the quality of life of dwellers and citizens. All projects issues are faced in a framework of environmental and social sustainability. Coordinator: Andrea Prota

PROJECTS OF NATIONAL INTEREST

  • DPC-RELUIS 2014-2018 - In the framework of this project the department develops activities in several general research lines (e.g. Masonry, R.C., Steel and Composites structures etc.) as well as within Territorial themes and Special projects.
  • PRIN 2010/11 - Advanced mechanical modeling of new materials and new technologies for the European 2020 challenges (scientific responsible: Gaetano Manfredi)
  • PRIN 2010/11 - Non linear structural analysis (scientific responsible: Luciano Rosati)
  • Progetto STAR: INTERACTS - Integrated and reliable approaches for sustainability assessment of existing buildings, financed by STAR Programme– Università di Napoli Federico II & the company Compagnia San Paolo (Principal Investigator: Costantino Menna). Duration: 2017-2019.
  • PRIN 2015. PERICLES - Protecting the Cultural Heritage from water-soil interaction related threats. The project PERICLES will develop a sustainable management strategy for Cultural Heritage exposed to Landslides and subsidence that will identify priorities and innovative methodologies for risk assessment, monitoring and mitigation together with conservation and valorisation measures. Coordinator: Raffaele Landolfo

Library, labs and facilities

Labs

The labs are officially recognized by Servizio Tecnico Centrale del Consiglio Superiore dei Lavori Pubblici. The labs are equipped with unique experimental devices, allowing to perform static and dynamic tests also for large scale specimens and nonconventional tests devoted to the standardization of mechanical tests and to the characterization of innovative structural systems, for seismic isolation and composites.
Tour guidato nel Laboratorio prove del DiSt

Main Research Facilities

  • - Rigid floor 200 mq and rigid floor 70 mq, independent
  • - system of 2 asynchronous shaking tables 3x3 m2
  • - Universal machine Italsigma: tests in traction, compression and cyclic; specimens h 0,5 - 4,0 m
  • - Universal machine MTS810 tests in traction, compression and cyclic; specimens hmax 1,4 m
  • - steel contrast frame for bending tests with two, three and four points with large dimension specimens
  • - Italsigma contrast wall: verical cantilever for bending tests on vertical elements of large dimensions
  • Further details

Library

The library keeps thousands of monographies and more than 200 journals. From 2003 the library keeps and updates the catalogue of A.C.I .Italy Chapter.

Third mission

Patents

  • Dispositivo antisganciamento SPS Safe Partition System. Numero di domanda: 102015000024909; brevetto europeo; data di deposito: 17/06/2015. Proprietà: Mangini Srl. E' un dispositivo per partizioni in pareti mobili che consente loro di avere danneggiamento nullo sotto azioni sismiche. Reference to Gennaro Magliulo
  • Seismic damage reducing system for partitions. a) European patent. Request no.: 13290324.6 - 1604; request date: 20/12/2013. Property: Siniat International SAS. Marketed by: Siniat International SAS. b) International Patent System Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Application no. EP2014/078834; request date: December 2014 E' una configurazione di parete in cartongesso che ne annulla il danneggiamento sotto azioni sismiche. Reference to Gennaro Magliulo
  • Protective structure for board partitions. a) European patent. European application no. 13221 131015. Property: Siniat International SAS. Marketed by: Siniat International SAS. International Patent System Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Application no. EP2014/078829;request date: December 2014. E' una configurazione di parete in cartongesso che consente un danneggiamento limitato e controllato della stessa sotto azioni sismiche. Reference to Gennaro Magliulo
  • Struttura prefabbricata e procedimento di montaggio. N. 0001412673 del 13/01/2014. Numero di domanda: PD2012A000222; CCIAA di deposito: Padova; data di deposito: 12/07/2012. Proprietà: FIP Industriale. E' un collegamento in acciaio tra elementi prefabbricati in cemento armato, che resiste alle azioni sismiche e che può essere utilizzato sia per il ripristino di collegamenti esistenti che per collegamenti nuovi. E' arricchito rispetto al brevetto del punto successivo. Reference to Gennaro Magliulo
  • Struttura e procedimento di montaggio della stessa. N. ITRM20110332 del 24/12/2012. Numero di domanda: RM2011R000985; CCIAA di deposito: Roma; data di deposito: 01/08/2011. Proprietà: Vittorio Capozzi, Gennaro Magliulo. E' un collegamento in acciaio tra elementi prefabbricati in cemento armato, che resiste alle azioni sismiche che può essere utilizzato sia per il ripristino di collegamenti esistenti che per collegamenti nuovi. Reference to Gennaro Magliulo
  • Italian Patent for industrial invention - No. NA2014A000027 - Released on 10/10/2016 - entitled "Geopolymer-silicone hybrid materials for high temperature applications: preparation method and materials obtained". The present invention deals with a geopolymer-silicone hybrid material and a process for the synthesis of itself by means of an in situ polymerization process with a silicone rubber. The invention can be advantageously applied in the construction material industry, for example for the production of alternative cement binders as well as in the engineering sector of structural and protective adhesives. Inventors: Costantino Menna, Domenico Asprone, Andrea Prota.

Spin-Off

  • FED - Future Environmental Design srls –dedicated to services based on integrated design with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and on assessment of environmental sustainability through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with high innivative content for the whole sector of constructions in engineering. Reference to Domenico Asprone
  • SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & MATERIALS FOR ANTI-SEISMIC RELIABLE TECHNIQUES (SEISMART). A University Spin Off with the objective of technological transfer of innovative solutions for seismic retrofit of existing structures.

Lifelong learning

Updating lessons for professional organizations (ordine degli Ingegneri della provincia di Napoli; ordine degli Architetti, pianificatori, paesaggisti e conservatori della provincia di Napoli) and associations (AICAP, CTA, ANIDIS, CTE). Formation related to several research projects: Formazione METROPOLIS; Formazione METRICS.

Public engagement

The department is involved with a key role several in consortiums and districts:

  • Consorzio per lo sviluppo e il trasferimento di tecnologie e per la realizzazione di servizi nel Mezzogiorno nel settore del recupero edilizio - TRE,
  • AMRA (Analisi e Monitoraggio del Rischio Ambientale S.c.ar.l.), from 2005,
  • Sviluppo Tecnologie e Ricerca per l'Edilizia Sismicamente Sicura ed Ecosostenibile - STRESS S.c.ar.l. (from 2010)
  • Distretto Tecnologico Campania Bioscience S.c.a.r.l., from 2013.

Moreover, the department is involved in the interdepartmental research centers CRIB on biomaterials, SCIC on structural composites for innovative applications and LUPT for urban and territorial planning.