Francesco Calvetti


ICAR/07 - Geotechincs

MSc in Civil Engineering (1992, Politecnico di Milano), PhD in Geotechnical Engineering (1998, Politecnico di Milano).

Associate Professor of Soil Mechanics at Politecnico di Milano since 2004, he teaches Geotecnica (Ingegneria Edile-Architettura) and Soil-Structure Interaction (MSc in Civil Engineering for Risk Mitigation).

He is Rector Delegate for Sport Activities at Politecnico di Milano.

He is member of TC 105 (Geo-Mechanics from Micro to Macro) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

His main research interests are:
– Design of protection structure for landslides.
 Experimental study and numerical simulation of block impacts on granular materials. In situ testing of real scale shelters. Modeling of impact wave propagation and soil-shelter dynamic interaction. Numerical dynamic analysis of the non linear behavior of the shelter. Modelling of the impact of debris-flows on structures.

– Application of the Distinct Element Method to Geotechnical and Rock Engineering problems. Modelling of soil-structure interaction: soil-pipe interaction, earth pressure on retaining structures, cone penetration tests, rockfall impact on shelters, silo flow. Modelling of landslides: debris flows and rockfalls (triggering, run-out assessment, impact). Weathering induced subsidence and collapses. Seismic triggering of landslides and seismic behavior of blocky structures.

– Micromechanical study of the mechanical behaviour of soils and granular materials in general. Reproduction of laboratory element tests on sand and soft-rocks, micro-macro correlations, calibration of micromechanical parameters, 2D-3D analogy. Incremental behaviour, non-reversibility, local mechanism of plastic strain. Study of induced anisotropy, localisation, liquefaction. Modelling of hard-soils/soft-rocks, weathering.