Skip to main content
Elisa Bertolesi  RESCOM Deputy Research Group Leader

Dr Elisa Bertolesi

(she/her)

RESCOM Deputy Research Group Leader

Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering

School of Engineering

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

 

I'm Dr. Elisa Bertolesi, a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Cardiff University. With a Ph.D. from Politecnico di Milano (Italy), my research extends beyond theoretical frameworks, with practical applications contributing to the identification of collapse risks due to fatigue and assessing the robustness of structures. My research, recognized internationally with awards such as the Postgraduate Project Prize from the International Masonry Society, focuses on ensuring the safety and resilience of critical infrastructures. I have developed SHM systems, identifying risks of collapse and assessing structural robustness. My dedication extends to collaborative projects, including the EU-funded SCOURSHAKE project, addressing multi-hazard challenges posed by climate change. I have published over 36 papers in high-impact journals and I'm actively engaged in teaching, administrative roles, and promoting diversity and inclusion in academia. I serve as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Articles

Research

Funded Projects

  • CAPES/PRINT - Visiting Professor at the Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil). 
  • Subvenciones a Grupos de Investigacion Emergentes 2023: Enhancing the robustness of timber structures (PI: Dr. Manuel Buitrago – Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain, Co-I: Dr. Elisa Bertolesi).
  • EU, ERIES PROJECT 2023 ERIES-SCOURSHAKE: Structural Performance monitoring and evaluation of scoured bridges under dynamic actions (PI: Maria Giuseppina Limongelli – POLIMI, Italy, Co-I: Dr. Elisa Bertolesi, UK et al.). Involved research centres: POLIMI, Italy, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy, Politecnico di Torino, Italy, Università di Camerino, Italy, University of Birmingham, University of Strathclyde, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, University Gustave Eiffel, France. Industrial Partners: Egnatia Odos: Panagiotis Panetsos (Egnatia Odos, Greece), Ivan Cottone (SMARTEC, Switzerland) and Nicola Brusa (Tailor-Engineering, Italy).
  • Research Seminar Series. Project: The challenge of resilient structures: from traditional approaches to Internet of Things (IoT) applied to Structural Health Monitoring of critical infrastructures (PI: Dr. Elisa Bertolesi, UK).
  • Postdoc fellowship: Juan de la Cierva - Formación. Funding body: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain) (PI: Dr. Elisa Bertolesi – Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain).

Teaching

With a rich background in teaching, I have successfully imparted knowledge in the following Modules:

  • Engineering Practice – Undergraduate, Module Contributor - Brunel University London
  • Digital transformation for built environment: IoT applied to structural health monitoring of critical structures and infrastructures – Doctorate, Module Contributor - Politecnico di Milano
  • Structural Design and FEA – MSc, Module Leader - Brunel University London
  • Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Finite Element Method – MSc, Module Leader - Brunel University London
  • Structural Dynamics and Seismic Design – MSc, Module Contributor - Brunel University London
  • Advanced Construction Materials and Structural Retrofitting Technology – MSc, Module Contributor - Brunel University London
  • Multiphysics optimization of the building envelope – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
  • Structural Analysis – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
  • Structural rehabilitation of buildings – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
  • Modelling the mechanics of masonry structures – Doctorate, Module Contributor - Politecnico di Milano
  • Solid Mechanics – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
  • Fundamentals of structural design – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
  • Structural modeling and analysis – Undergraduate, Teaching Assistant - Politecnico di Milano
 

Biography

Dr. Elisa Bertolesi is currently a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Cardiff University, where she leads a dynamic research group with a strong emphasis on doctoral research. She earned her PhD with Honours in Architecture, Built Environment & Construction Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano (Italy). Dr. Bertolesi's research focus lies in the development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) strategies, particularly utilizing fiber-optic technologies for the real-time monitoring of riveted steel railway bridges. Her work has contributed to identifying potential risks of collapse due to fatigue from increased traffic volumes and assessing the robustness of these structures in the face of progressive damage. Her achievements include international recognition for her PhD thesis, which received the Postgraduate Project Prize from the International Masonry Society in London, UK. Dr. Bertolesi has collaborated with various universities in the UK and overseas, as well as companies, resulting in numerous publications in international journals. With over 36 published papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, Dr. Bertolesi's academic profile reflects a high degree of international activity. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in the UK and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), CEng, MICE. Dr. Bertolesi serves as a peer reviewer for 17 high-impact factor journals and is a member of editorial boards for prominent journals in her field. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Bertolesi is actively engaged in scientific divulgation, participating in seminars and events globally. Her recent selection to participate in the Go Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Action Student Challenge at York University (Canada) demonstrates her commitment to global collaboration and addressing challenges through a multidisciplinary lens.

Honours and awards

  • Editor-in-Chief, Leroy Gardner, has selected the paper: ‘Robustness of steel truss bridges: Laboratory testing of a full-scale 21-metre bridge span’ as his ‘Featured Article’ from the February 2021 issue of Structures journal.
  • International Masonry Society, Postgraduate Project Prize 2016

Professional memberships

  • Member of the Institution of Civil Engineering (CEng, MICE)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education (FHEA)
  • Full College Member EPSRC - Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council
  • Member of the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT)
  • Member of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures RILEM

Academic positions

  • 2023 - to date: Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Cardiff University, UK
  • 2020 - 2023: Lecturer in Structural Engineering, Brunel University London, UK
  • 2020 - 2020: Postdoctoral Fellow Juan de la Cierva, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
  • 2018 - 2020: Postdoctoral Fellow, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
  • 2017-2018: Postdoctoral Fellow, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Speaking engagements

  • SAHC 2025: Scientific Committe member.
  • WCEE2024, Technical Session, Title: Bridges in multi-hazard environment: monitoring and analysis under flooding and earthquakes. In collaboration with Prof. Maria Pina Limongelli (Politecnico di Milano), Dr. Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis (University of Birmingham, UK) and Dr. Emmanouil Rovithis (Democritus University of Thrace, Greece).
  • Research Seminar at Imperial College London (UK), 2023. Title: Structural Health Monitoring and Robustness assessment of old riveted railway bridges.
  • Go Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Action Student Challenge hosted by York University in Canada, 2022. The focus of the initiative is on enhancing global learning opportunities, particularly for students from diverse backgrounds such as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, those with low-income, or students living with disabilities. It emphasizes sending students to non-traditional destination countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. This experience broadens students' understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and provides them with a platform to contribute to these goals irrespective of their field of study.
  • Semi-Plenary lecture at MuRiCo 7 2021, Mini symposium, Title: Advanced computational models of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) materials applied to masonry structures.

Outreach activities

  • Concrete Laboratory Experience 2024, RAEng ENGAGE Project School.
  • Museum After Dark 2024: Resilient Structures and Construction Materials exhibition. 

Committees and reviewing

  • Editor - Journal of Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier (2023 - to date)
  • Early Career Board Member of Journal of Building and Environment, Elsevier (2022 - to date)
  • International Editorial Board Member - Journal of Composites for Construction, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2020 - to date)
  • Editorial Board Member - Scientific Reports, Springer Nature (2021 - 2024)
  • Leading Editor: Special Issue of the Structures journal (Elsevier) entitled "Advances in the design and simulation of masonry infilled structures under extreme loads" in collaboration with Dr. Manuel Buitrago (Universitat Politecnica de Valencia - Spain), Prof. Jason Ingham (University of Auckland - New Zealand) and Prof. Bing Li (Nanyang Technological University - Singapore) (2022)
  • Managing Editor - Journal of Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier (2018 - 2023)
  • Guest Editor - Collection "Numerical Modeling Trends for Historical Masonry Structures", Frontiers in Built Environment (Computational Methods in Structural Engineering) (2019)

Supervisions

Embark on an enriching PhD journey with my research group at Cardiff University and delve into the forefront of innovative solutions for preserving and monitoring cultural heritage structures.

Current supervision

Rory Negus

Rory Negus

Research student

Past projects

  • Manolis Dialynas, PhD research field: heritage strcutures, conservation, rehabilitation materials, Supervisory team: Prof. Mizi Fan (Brunel University London), Dr Elisa Bertolesi (Cardiff University)

 

  • Abdulahi Mohamed, PhD research field: Self-healing, Microbial immobilization, Organic and inorganic materials, Concrete, Cracks, Suprvisory team: Prof. Mizi Fan (Brunel University London), Dr Elisa Bertolesi (Cardiff University)

Contact Details

Email BertolesiE@cardiff.ac.uk

Campuses Queen's Buildings - South Building, Floor 3rd, Room S3.04, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Specialisms

  • Architectural heritage and conservation
  • Civil engineering
  • Progressive Collapse
  • Strengthening of existing structures
  • Structural Health Monitoring