Scamardo Manuela Alessandra

Assistant Professor at the ABC Department of Politecnico di Milano from 2025, where she teaches "Mechanics and Design of Structures" within the Architecture program. She holds a PhD in Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (2020) and she was a Post-Doctoral Researcher from 2020 to 2024. Her international track record includes a period as a Visiting PhD Scholar at UC San Diego and as an Invited Lecturer at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Her research interests focuses on the experimental, theoretical and numerical characterization of structural materials and technological systems, with an emphasis on seismic vulnerability and retrofitting of existing buildings. Her recent work includes the design and performance assessment of post-installed connectors for seismic retrofitting of masonry/RC structures.She has authored over 30 scientific publications published in prestigious International Journals or presented at relevant International Conferences.

Career

PhD in Architecture, Built Environment, and Construction Engineering, Polytechnic University of Milan (2020).

Master's Degree in Seismic Design for Sustainable Structures, Fratelli Pesenti Master's School, Polytechnic University of Milan (2014).

Master's Degree in Civil Engineering-Architecture with honors, University of Palermo (2013).

Research

Mechanical behavior of quasi-brittle materials (masonry and r.c.), seismic behavior and vulnerability assessment of existing buildings, structural rehabilitation and strengthening techniques, post-installed anchoring systems.

Selected Publications

Scamardo M, Cattaneo S, Crespi P, & Menghini A (2025). Assessment of in-line bonded fastening for masonry retrofitting. Journal of Building Engineering, 114724.

Scamardo M, Cattaneo S & Crespi P (2025). Masonry retrofitting with steel reinforced plaster: experimental and analytical study. Journal of Building Engineering, 108, 112890.

Scamardo M, Cattaneo S, Crespi P, Vafa N (2024). Cyclic behavior of C-shaped masonry wall retrofitted with twisted bars or bonded rebars. Construction and Building Materials, 443 (2024) 137703.

Scamardo M, Cattaneo S, Crespi P, Biolzi L (2023). Design method for masonry structures retrofitted with steel reinforced plaster, Journal of Building Engineering, 79, 107828.

Biolzi L, Cattaneo S, Crespi P, Scamardo M, Vafa N (2023). Diagonal compression cyclic testing of unreinforced and reinforced masonry walls. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 363, p. 1-14.

Scamardo M, Zucca M, Crespi P, Longarini N, Cattaneo S (2022). Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of a Historical Masonry Tower: Comparison between Different Approaches. Applied Sciences, vol. 12, p. 1-17.

Scamardo M, Franchi A, Crespi P (2022). A non-standard numerical method for finite element modelling of tensile cracks in quasi-brittle material. Computers & Structures, vol. 258, p. 1-15.

Grants, awards and Honours

European Heritage Award for the rehabilitation project of the Basilica di Collemaggio (L'Aquila) (2020)