Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci

Patrizia Trovalusci was born in Rome (Italy) in 1961. Her original background was in Architecture, where she got her Master degree with a thesis: ‘Diocletian Baths. Directions of investigation for a monument. Structural Aspects and Mathematical Formulations’ at Sapienza University of Rome, in which, among all, she developed an original computer code for the structural analysis of masonry vaults based on the solution proposed by Alberto Castigliano for the so-called «solides imparfaitement élastiques». More precisely her course of study always aimed at creating a bridge between the ‘two cultures’, scientific and humanistic.

Following this track, the first years of Patrizia’s research activity were dedicated to the study of the problems concerning the acquisition of a specific mathematical instrumentation for the analysis of the mechanical behavior of ancient masonry structures. In particular, she participated in a study campaign, promoted by the Archaeological Superintendence of Salerno, for the restoration of the temple of Athena in Paestum, personally taking care of issues concerning mechanical modelling and calculation models for specific structural analyses. In parallel, she deepened some experimental aspects by collaborating on dynamic tests performed on models of the Coclid columns and other static tests on block masonry panels. The interdisciplinary nature of the topic, between the mechanics of the structures and the restoration of the monuments, constitutes the guiding thread also of the PhD thesis (Mathematical Models for Block Masonry Considered as A System with Micro-Structure). During the PhD course, at the University of Florence (Italy), she had the opportunity to deepen some general topics concerning the mechanics of solids and structures and the final dissertation also present some original modelling proposals developed within the framework of generalized (non classical) continuum theories, that allow one to take into account of brick/block size, orientation and texture.

In July 1992 Patrizia won the national competition as Assistant Professor of Solids and Structural Mechanics at Sapienza University of Rome. In July 2000 was eligible as Associate Professor of Solids and Structural Mechanics, in a comparative evaluation procedure announced by the University of Palermo (Faculty of Engineering), and since November 2000 she served as a tenured Associated Professor at the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering of Sapienza. On 2012, she obtained the National Academic Qualification as Full Professor and on March 2016 she became a tenured Full Professor of Solids and Structural Mechanics. On November 2019 she was elected as Director of the PhD Program in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at Sapienza.

Patrizia loves dance, in particular she has always studied and still studies classical dance, music, art and architecture and she has always been a traveler. She is married since 1990 and has two sons.

Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci, Receiving the Fray International Award from Dr. Florian Kongoli at FLOGEN SIPS 2022

Dr. Florian Kongoli congratulating Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci on his award at FLOGEN SIPS 2022

Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci, Delivering her acceptance speech to Dr. Florian Kongoli during the FLOGEN SIPS 2022 ceremony

FLOGEN SIPS 2022 Awards: Dr. Patrizia Trovalusci, Professor, Sapienza - University of Rome, Italy