![Brunella Balzano](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3833?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Brunella Balzano
(she/her)
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Brunella Balzano
Senior Lecturer in Structural Design
Overview
About me
I am a Senior Lecturer in Building and Structures Design at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) and a Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE) with a background in smart civil engineering. Before this, I was a Lecturer in Smart Civil Engineering at Cardiff University from 2020. I was Co-Investigator on the UKRI-EPSRC Programme Grant Resilient Materials 4 Life (RM4L), a major initiative focused on developing high-performance, self-healing materials for the construction industry.
Since 2021, I have led two EPSRC Impact Accelerator Awards—one focused on damage detection systems for cementitious materials, and another, in partnership with LUSAS, exploring adaptation strategies for subsidence at the Church of St John the Evangelist in London. I am also an official ICE mentor, supporting Graduate Members on the path to chartership.
My current research explores smart technologies for retrofitting existing masonry buildings to address climate change impacts, particularly subsidence. I also work on the development of intelligent systems for the autonomous detection and repair of structural cracks in building materials. This vision aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry through more sustainable, resilient design and building management.
Publication
2024
- Balzano, B., Sharifi, S., Sweeney, J., Thompson, G., De Nardi, C. and Jefferson, A. 2024. Design of an electric activation system for the smart hybrid tendons crack-closure system in concrete beams. Developments in the Built Environment 18, article number: 100446. (10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100446)
- Sharifi, S. and Balzano, B. 2024. Pinball tendons crack closure technology. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 34-38., (10.18573/conf1.i)
- Balzano, B., Sharifi, S. and Tsang, C. 2024. Smart activation system for the hybrid tendons crack closure technology. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 39-43., (10.18573/conf1.j)
- Neghabat Shirazi, B., Almutlaqah, A., Balzano, B. and Maddalena, R. 2024. Agricultural waste as a cementitious material — rice husk ash. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 48-51., (10.18573/conf1.l)
2023
- Bruno, A. W., Najdi, A. and Balzano, B. 2023. A thermal conductivity model for deformable and unsaturated soils to assess the thermal behaviour of energy piles. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering 9(5), article number: 58. (10.1007/s40891-023-00478-3)
2022
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2022. Applications and life cycle assessment of shape memory polyethylene terephthalate in concrete for crack closure. Polymers 14(5), article number: 933. (10.3390/polym14050933)
2021
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Injection moulding of ‘Spheritet’ component for concrete reinforcement. Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 302-305.
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Concrete crack closure and reinforcement using high performance shape memory polymers (SMP). Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 306-310.
- Balzano, B., Bruno, A. W., Denzer, H., Molan, D., Tarantino, A. and Gallipoli, D. 2021. REAL-TIME quality check of measurements of soil water status in the vadose zone. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 121, article number: 102918. (10.1016/j.pce.2020.102918)
- Balzano, B., Sweeney, J., Thompson, G., Tuinea-Bobe, C. and Jefferson, A. 2021. Enhanced concrete crack closure with hybrid shape memory polymer tendons. Engineering Structures 226, article number: 111330. (10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111330)
2020
- Maddalena, R., Bonanno, L., Balzano, B., Sweeney, J. and Mihai, I. 2020. A crack closure system for cementitious composite materials using knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Cement and Concrete Composites 114, article number: 103757. (10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103757)
2019
- Balzano, B., Tarantino, A. and Ridley, A. 2019. Preliminary analysis on the impacts of the rhizosphere on occurrence of rainfall-induced shallow landslides. Landslides 16(10), pp. 1885-1901. (10.1007/s10346-019-01197-5)
- Balzano, B., Tarantino, A., Nicotera, M. V., Forte, G., De Falco, M. and Santo, A. 2019. Building physically-based models for assessing rainfall-induced shallow landslide hazard at the catchment scale: the case study of the Sorrento Peninsula (Italy). Canadian Geotechnical Journal 56(9), pp. 1291-1303. (10.1139/cgj-2017-0611)
2014
- Balzano, B., Amabile, A., Caruso, M. and Tarantino, A. 2014. A numerical study of hydrological effects of vegetation on slope stability. In: Khalili, N., Russell, A. and Khoshghalb, A. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research & Applications. CRC Press, pp. 1249-1256.
- Amabile, A., Balzano, B., Caruso, M. and Tarantino, A. 2014. A conceptual model for water-limited evapotranspiration taking into account root depth, root density, and vulnerability to xylem cavitation. In: Khalili, N., Russell, A. and Khoshghalb, A. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research & Applications. CRC Press
2012
- Balzano, B., Amabile, A., Urciuoli, G. and Tarantino, A. 2012. Effect of partial saturation on the stability of shallow foundations above the water table. In: Mancuso, C., Jommi, C. and D'Onza, F. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research and Applications., Vol. 2. Springer, pp. 247-253., (10.1007/978-3-642-31343-1_31)
Articles
- Balzano, B., Sharifi, S., Sweeney, J., Thompson, G., De Nardi, C. and Jefferson, A. 2024. Design of an electric activation system for the smart hybrid tendons crack-closure system in concrete beams. Developments in the Built Environment 18, article number: 100446. (10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100446)
- Bruno, A. W., Najdi, A. and Balzano, B. 2023. A thermal conductivity model for deformable and unsaturated soils to assess the thermal behaviour of energy piles. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering 9(5), article number: 58. (10.1007/s40891-023-00478-3)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2022. Applications and life cycle assessment of shape memory polyethylene terephthalate in concrete for crack closure. Polymers 14(5), article number: 933. (10.3390/polym14050933)
- Balzano, B., Bruno, A. W., Denzer, H., Molan, D., Tarantino, A. and Gallipoli, D. 2021. REAL-TIME quality check of measurements of soil water status in the vadose zone. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 121, article number: 102918. (10.1016/j.pce.2020.102918)
- Balzano, B., Sweeney, J., Thompson, G., Tuinea-Bobe, C. and Jefferson, A. 2021. Enhanced concrete crack closure with hybrid shape memory polymer tendons. Engineering Structures 226, article number: 111330. (10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111330)
- Maddalena, R., Bonanno, L., Balzano, B., Sweeney, J. and Mihai, I. 2020. A crack closure system for cementitious composite materials using knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Cement and Concrete Composites 114, article number: 103757. (10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103757)
- Balzano, B., Tarantino, A. and Ridley, A. 2019. Preliminary analysis on the impacts of the rhizosphere on occurrence of rainfall-induced shallow landslides. Landslides 16(10), pp. 1885-1901. (10.1007/s10346-019-01197-5)
- Balzano, B., Tarantino, A., Nicotera, M. V., Forte, G., De Falco, M. and Santo, A. 2019. Building physically-based models for assessing rainfall-induced shallow landslide hazard at the catchment scale: the case study of the Sorrento Peninsula (Italy). Canadian Geotechnical Journal 56(9), pp. 1291-1303. (10.1139/cgj-2017-0611)
Book sections
- Balzano, B., Amabile, A., Caruso, M. and Tarantino, A. 2014. A numerical study of hydrological effects of vegetation on slope stability. In: Khalili, N., Russell, A. and Khoshghalb, A. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research & Applications. CRC Press, pp. 1249-1256.
- Amabile, A., Balzano, B., Caruso, M. and Tarantino, A. 2014. A conceptual model for water-limited evapotranspiration taking into account root depth, root density, and vulnerability to xylem cavitation. In: Khalili, N., Russell, A. and Khoshghalb, A. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research & Applications. CRC Press
- Balzano, B., Amabile, A., Urciuoli, G. and Tarantino, A. 2012. Effect of partial saturation on the stability of shallow foundations above the water table. In: Mancuso, C., Jommi, C. and D'Onza, F. eds. Unsaturated Soils: Research and Applications., Vol. 2. Springer, pp. 247-253., (10.1007/978-3-642-31343-1_31)
Conferences
- Sharifi, S. and Balzano, B. 2024. Pinball tendons crack closure technology. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 34-38., (10.18573/conf1.i)
- Balzano, B., Sharifi, S. and Tsang, C. 2024. Smart activation system for the hybrid tendons crack closure technology. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 39-43., (10.18573/conf1.j)
- Neghabat Shirazi, B., Almutlaqah, A., Balzano, B. and Maddalena, R. 2024. Agricultural waste as a cementitious material — rice husk ash. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023, Cardiff, UK, 12-14 July 2023 Presented at Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds.Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press pp. 48-51., (10.18573/conf1.l)
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Injection moulding of ‘Spheritet’ component for concrete reinforcement. Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 302-305.
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Concrete crack closure and reinforcement using high performance shape memory polymers (SMP). Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 306-310.
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2022. Applications and life cycle assessment of shape memory polyethylene terephthalate in concrete for crack closure. Polymers 14(5), article number: 933. (10.3390/polym14050933)
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Injection moulding of ‘Spheritet’ component for concrete reinforcement. Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 302-305.
- Sweeney, J. et al. 2021. Concrete crack closure and reinforcement using high performance shape memory polymers (SMP). Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference, Online/Cardiff, 20-22 Sept 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University pp. 306-310.
Research
Research interests:
- Climate Change Adaptation of Existing Masonry Buildings.
- Subsidence risk induced by climate change.
- Smart Crack Closure technologies
- Concrete and Cob 3D printing
- Structural Design
- Self-Healing Concrete
- Shape memory polymers
- Structural monitoring
Research Projects |
||||
| Title | People | Funder | Value | Duration |
| Unravelling the next move: a case study of a prominent listed church subject to subsidence induced by climate change. | B Balzano, O Prizeman, S Sharifi | IAA- EPSRC | £12,380 | 04/2025-10/2025 |
| Resilient Materials 4 Life (RM4L) | AD Jefferson, DR Gardner, M Harbottle, IC Mihai, RE Davies, A Paul, R Maddalena, B Balzano | UKRI-EPSRC | £4,837,625 | 04/2017 - 04/2022 |
| Towards next generation infrastructures: Smart Hybrid Tendons for Concrete Self-healing | B Balzano, C De Nardi, J Sweeney | IAA-EPSRC | £19,925 | 06/2021 - 05/2022 |
Internships |
||||
| Title | Student | Funder | Value | Duration |
| Smart Concrete Structures | Yuk Lam Jasper Chiu | On-Campus Internship (Futures) | £1,000 | 06/2021 - 08/2021 |
Teaching
Present
Architectural Technology - Structures (Year 1, 2 and 3)
Precedent
Structures - Dynamics (Year 1)
FE Applications (Year 3)
Design Fesasibility (Year 4)
Biography
Education:
- 2013-2018: PhD Strudent, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
- 2010- 2013: MEng, Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, University of Federico II, Naples
Grade: 110/110 cum Laude equiv. First Class Honors - 2007-2010: BEng, Enviromental Engineering, University of Federico II, Naples
Grade: 110/110 cum Laude equiv. FirstClass Honors
Work Experience:
- 2023 - Present: Senior Lecturer in Structural Design at Welsh School of Architecture.
- 2020 - 2023: Lecturer in Smart Civil Engineering at Cardiff University
- 2018 - 2020: Research Associate , School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- 2017 - 2018: Design Engineer, Spencer Group, UK
- 2016: Visiting Researcher, University of Brazilia, Brazil
- 2015: Visiting Researcher, Pessl Instruments, Austria
Honours and awards
2019, Marie Curie Alumni Association. Micro Travel Grant to participate as invited speaker at the “Failed and Bored” Conference, Austria.
2019, Institution of Civil Engineers. Emerging Engineer Award, Wales.
2019, Athena Swan. Travel Grant for the Gender Equality Workshop in Newcastle.
2018, CA 15202 SARCOS COST Action. Travel grant to attend the 2nd SARCOS Training School in FRY Macedonia.
2016, GREAT (Geotechnical and geological Responses to climate change: Exchanging Approaches and Technologies on a world-wide scale). Travel Grant for Secondment to University of Brasilia.
2015, Marie Curie Industry-Academia Pathways. Travel grant for Secondment to Pessl Instruments, Austria.
Professional memberships
- 2023: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- 2020: Chartered Member (CEng MICE) of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) .
- 2013: Ingegnere Civile ed Ambientale (Chartered Civil Engineer equivalent, Italian Engineering Council)
Academic positions
2020- Present: Lecturer in Smart Civil Engineering, Cardiff University
2018-2020: Postdoctoral Research Associate for the RM4L Project, School Of Engineering, Cardiff
2016-2016: Visiting researcher, University of Brasilia
2015-2015: Visiting Researcher, Pessl Instruments, Weiz, Austria
2015-2015: Environmental Agency, Beverley, Visiting Researcher
Supervisions
Areas of Interest
I am available to supervise PhD, MPhil students, project students (undergraduate and postgraduate), interns and visiting students on the following topics:
- Structural Adaptation in response to climate change
- Retrofitting of existing strucutures (concrete or masorny)
- Smart Bui
- Water transport in porous media
- Structural damage and assessment
- ...I am also open to other topics.
Note: Prospective research students (PhD, EngD, MPhil, MRes) should investigate potential funding and/or scholarships before getting in touch. The UK Government has made available the Doctoral Student Loans (up to £26,000 for UK and EU students).
Current PhD Students |
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| Title | Student | Degree |
| Smart Tendons for self-crack-closure in building materials | Shahram Sharifi | PhD |
Current supervision
Shahram Sharifi
Contact Details
BalzanoB@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 76327
Bute Building, Room 3.10, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
Queen's Buildings - Central Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
+44 29208 76327
Bute Building, Room 3.10, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB
Queen's Buildings - Central Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA