My name is Vanessa Magnanimo, I am adjunct professor of Soil Micromechanics. Goal of my research is to use microscale information to describe the behaviour of soils and their interaction with infrastructures and environment.
My research employs fundamental micromechanics to study the macroscopic behaviour of soils. The analysis starts at the particle/pore scale. Insights are used to interpret experimental data, inform macro-model, and develop quantitative predictive tools functional to engineering applications.
Special attention is devoted to the impact of climate change, an urgent challenge for our society. Increasing climate stresses, in combination with exploitation of land, are affecting the performance of soils, leading to additional instability risk, potential damages to the built/natural environment and harvest/food losses. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of the interaction climate-soil-structure is crucial to design smart, sustainable technologies and contribute to multidisciplinary climate resilience actions. Benefits are expected for the environment, construction industry and our society.
The research work integrates multiscale numerical simulations and laboratory tests with field experiments carried out in the new Living Innovation Lab (LILa).
Background
My background combines Civil and Mechanical Engineering, enriched by standing collaborations with physics groups and experience in the civil engineering industry. Interdisciplinary is a trademark of my career and has been the key to provide a unique contribution the geomechanics community.
My broad research interests are primarily in the area of theoretical analysis and modern simulation techniques applied to modelling materials with an internal microstructure such as soils. I am interested in the use of advanced optimization techniques to improve soil performances and mitigate natural hazards.
In the years to come
The field of geotechnics is very traditional and often relies on empirical solutions. Modern challenges, like climate changes or energy transition, urgently call for novel approaches and smart technologies, that can provide effective, fast, and reliable responses. I aim at contributing to the research in this direction.
Education
I teach courses from bachelor to master level in several faculties. I find it fascinating to teach fundamentals of mechanics for Biomedical Engineering (Mechanica, BSc course in M4) and show how those concepts are common to all disciplines. On the other hand, the courses Soil Mechanics (BSc course in M5) and Advanced Soil Mechanics (MSc course), developed along the soil mechanics line in Civil Engineering, are closer to my research area and allow me to discuss novel developments in the field, along with traditional knowledge. Teaching and learning are always linked: every time I teach a course, I learn new things about the topic.
Collaborations
I have an extensive international academic network and I continuously collaborate with my colleagues in the Netherlands and abroad. I was visiting scientist at the City College of New York, Cornell University and 3SR Lab in Grenoble, among others. I find discussion and exchange the most interesting aspects of the research work. In my view, contamination between diverse fields is the essence of research.