Dr. Antonio Caggiano
Age: 35
Area of research: from construction materials to applied computer science
Name of my University / Research Institute: University of Buenos Aires and CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Argentina)
Research period at the TU Darmstadt:
February 2017 to January 2019 (AvH Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers)
Questionnaire to the Research Fellow
My field of research is fascinating. To laymen I would explain it in the following comprehensible manner:
For my research I do computer simulations on the mechanical behavior of construction materials under complex loading. So far I was mainly engaged in simulating cracking and damages of cementitious composites used in buildings and infrastructures. For this, I used coupled physics, mesoscale and multi-scale modelling approaches implemented in Finite-Element software. Thanks to my Von Humboldt fellowship, I will now simulate phase change materials in energy saving construction elements, to develop smart city solutions with a low environmental impact.
My most important success in research to date is…
I have a full-time position at the University of Buenos Aires and a recognized research position for the National Scientific & Technological Research Council of Argentina. In addition, I have a double PhD degree from the University of Salerno (IT) and the National University of Tucuman (ARG). My PhD thesis was awarded as the best in the period 2012-2014 by the ACI Italy and Federbeton (Italian Cement & Concrete Association). I am (co-)author of 20 journal papers and over 40 international conference papers. Finally, this von Humboldt fellowship (2017-2019) at the TU Darmstadt.
I’ve chosen the TU Darmstadt because of…
I think that this von Humboldt fellowship will give me an enormous impulse to my career in terms of international experience and to the extra knowledge I will gain in the field of coupled numerical modelling systems of heterogeneous and composite materials. I have chosen the TU Darmstadt due to the high level expertise of Prof. Dr. Koenders and his research group at TU Darmstadt in the field of multiscale modelling of concrete composites. The extended international research and modelling experiences of Prof. Dr. Koenders, the wide physical-chemical experiences of his research group as well as the availability of a super-computer (cluster) access at the TU Darmstadt campus create the perfect environment for linking/bridging microscale models to macroscale levels combined with experimental activities.
Questionnaire for the host
Guest of: Prof. Dr. Eddie Koenders
Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering / Institute of Construction and Building Materials
Your guest favourably impressed you by…
Antonio has a very wide experience in FE modelling of construction materials, which was the lacking competence in our institute. I am very pleased to have him in our team, which gives us the opportunity to develop new research lines in the field of energy storage systems for the construction sector.
With his expertise we can push forward research results and simulate the potential of phase change materials as a solution for enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings. Besides his research quality he also has the skills to teach students about FE modelling in construction.
You, your team and the TU Darmstadt benefit from your guest’s …
With Antonio in our team we can clarify research questions which were undisclosed before. For me he is a very important link to have a chain of competences that allow us to explore new research directions and optionally new additions to educational courses. For my team, besides his social impact, he might show them the power of computational modelling for research, and teach them how to use the potential of it for evaluating and upscaling laboratory results to an applicable level. For the TU Darmstadt I think that he will be an example for many others and adds to the internationalization of the university.
