Prof. FRANCESCO SILVESTRI

EDUCATION

  • 1986: M.Sc. in Civil Engineering at the University of Napoli Federico II.
  • 1991: Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Napoli Federico II.

ACADEMIC HISTORY

  • 1990: Research engineer - Scientist assistant at the University of Texas at Austin (USA).
  • 1990 to 1998: Research Assistant, University of Napoli Federico II.
  • 1998 to 2003: Associate Professor, University of Calabria.
  • 2003 to 2007: Full Professor, University of Calabria.  
  • 2007 to date: Full Professor, University of Napoli Federico II.

TEACHING ACTIVITY

  • 1994 to 2001: taught ‘Soil Dynamics’ at the University of Napoli Federico II.
  • 1998 to 2008: taught ‘Geotechnical Engineering’, ‘Foundations’, 'Soil Mechanics', 'Geotechnical Testing', ‘Geotechnical Design for Slope Stabilization’ and 'Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering' at the University of Calabria.
  • Currently: teaching ‘Foundations’ and 'Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering' at the University of Napoli Federico II.

RESEARCH MAINSTREAMS

  • Geotechnical characterisation and seismic microzonation of urban areas;
  • Advanced experimental techniques for the measurement of soil mechanical properties;
  • Constitutive modelling of soil behaviour at small strain levels;
  • Analysis of foundations, earth dams, coastal and underground structures, under working and seismic loadings;
  • Seismic site response analysis of historical towns in middle-southern Italy;
  • Large ground deformations and slope instability induced by earthquakes and other natural events;
  • Propagation and attenuation measures of railway and other man-made vibrations;
  • Advanced monitoring and ground improvement technologies for the seismic risk reduction.

SELECTED RESEARCH RELATED ACTIVITIES

  • More than 100 papers published for national and international journals and conferences, monographs, textbooks, technical reports.
  • Coordinator of research units and tasks in national research projects on soil dynamics and earthquake engineering.
  • Member of scientific committees, chairman and discussion leader, session or panel reporter at national and international conferences.
  • Active member of national and international Technical and Scientific Committees on:
    - geotechnical testing (ISSMGE-ETC5),
    - earthquake geotechnical engineering (ISSMGE ETC8 and TC203, PIANC WG34).
  • Member of the GEER (Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Reconnaissance) Association.
  • Member of the board council of the Italian Geotechnical Society (AGI) and of the Editorial Board of the Italian Geotechnical Journal.

More information can be found here.