His research focuses on integrating structural modelling, computational techniques, probabilistic concepts and experimental results into a coherent framework for the performance evaluation and design of structures responding to urgent needs of modern societies for resilience and sustainability.
Fabio’s research covers seismic design and retrofit, seismic risk assessment, smart structural details, resilience, and robustness of structural systems. These areas involve analytical and probabilistic studies, numerical simulations and large-scale structural tests.
The emphasis of his research is mainly on steel and steel-concrete composite structures.
In the past year Fabio has focused on three main research themes:
- smart structural details for steel frames: a rocking damage-free self-centring steel column base, using post-tensioned high strength steel bars and friction devices has been developed. While a design methodology has been proposed, numerical and experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of this innovative solution
- progressive collapse of self-centring moment resisting steel frames: while these structures demonstrated their seismic performances, considerations about other hazards are required. Numerical studies based on advanced 3D finite element models offer insights about the robustness of this structural typology
- dual systems based on moment resisting steel frames and buckling restrained braced frames: this research focuses on the definition of design recommendations for the dual system
Author
Fabio Freddi
