Dr Adriana Chitez
(she/her)
BEng, MSc, PhD
Lecturer in Civil Engineering
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I have been a lecturer in the Architectural, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at Cardiff University’s School of Engineering since January 2023. I graduated as the top student from Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest in 2008 and subsequently undertook a Master Degree in Structural Engineering at the same institution. In 2010 I started my Doctoral Studies at Cardiff University on the development of a coupled thermo-hygro-chemical numerical model for the simulation of autogenous self-healing in cementitious materials.
After successfully defending my PhD thesis in 2015, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at EMPA, Switzerland in the interdisciplinary research project THRIVE focused on development of thermally driven adsorption heat pumps for substitution of electricity and fossil fuels. My contribution in the project consisted in the optimization modelling for high transport rates in adsorber heat exchangers.
From 2016 to 2022, I have worked as a Lecturer at the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest with teaching duties focusing on mechanics of materials and finite element method. During this period my research interests shifted towards damage assessment due to extreme wind events.
Research Group: Resilient Structures and Construction Materials (RESCOM)
Publication
2024
- Calotescu, I., Chitez, A., Birsan, M., Micu, D. and Dumitrescu, A. 2024. Assessment of thunderstorm-prone areas in Romania based on wind damage occurrence and surface observation data. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 250, article number: 105765. (10.1016/j.jweia.2024.105765)
2022
- Calotescu, I. and Chitez, A. 2022. Wind damage catalogue of Romania: 2013-2022. Bucharest, Romania: Publishing Conspress. (10.5281/zenodo.7925409)
- Calotescu, I. et al. eds. 2022. 8th European-African Conference on Wind Engineering (8EACWE2022), September 20-23. Bucharest, Romania: Publishing Conspress. (10.5281/zenodo.8092029)
2016
- Chitez, A. S. and Jefferson, A. D. 2016. A coupled thermo-hygro-chemical model for characterising autogenous healing in ordinary cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research 88, pp. 184-197. (10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.07.002)
2015
- Chitez, A. S. and Jefferson, A. D. 2015. Porosity development in a thermo-hygral finite element model for cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research 78(Part B), pp. 216-233. (10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.07.010)
- Jefferson, A. D. and Chitez, A. 2015. A continuum coupled thermo-hygro mechanical time-dependent model for concrete. Presented at: CONCREEP 10: Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Vienna, Austria, 21-23 September 2015Proceedings: CONCREEP 10: Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures. American Society of Civil Engineers pp. 397-403., (10.1061/9780784479346.047)
2014
- Jefferson, A. D., Tenchev, R., Chitez, A., Mihai, I. C., Garry, C. and Lyons, P. 2014. Finite element crack width computations with a thermo-hygro-mechanical-hydration model for concrete. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 18(7), pp. 793-813. (10.1080/19648189.2014.896755)
- Chitez, A. 2014. Coupled thermo-hygro-chemical modelling of self-healing processes in cementitious materials. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2013
- Jefferson, A. D. and Chitez, A. 2013. Porosity development in a numerical model for concrete shrinkage. Presented at: Fifth Biot Conference on Poromechanics, Vienna, Austria, 10-12 July 2013 Presented at Hellmich, C., Pichler, B. and Adam, D. eds.Poromechanics V - Proceedings of the 5th Biot Conference on Poromechanics. ASCE pp. 618-625., (10.1061/9780784412992.073)
Articles
- Calotescu, I., Chitez, A., Birsan, M., Micu, D. and Dumitrescu, A. 2024. Assessment of thunderstorm-prone areas in Romania based on wind damage occurrence and surface observation data. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 250, article number: 105765. (10.1016/j.jweia.2024.105765)
- Chitez, A. S. and Jefferson, A. D. 2016. A coupled thermo-hygro-chemical model for characterising autogenous healing in ordinary cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research 88, pp. 184-197. (10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.07.002)
- Chitez, A. S. and Jefferson, A. D. 2015. Porosity development in a thermo-hygral finite element model for cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research 78(Part B), pp. 216-233. (10.1016/j.cemconres.2015.07.010)
- Jefferson, A. D., Tenchev, R., Chitez, A., Mihai, I. C., Garry, C. and Lyons, P. 2014. Finite element crack width computations with a thermo-hygro-mechanical-hydration model for concrete. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 18(7), pp. 793-813. (10.1080/19648189.2014.896755)
Books
- Calotescu, I. and Chitez, A. 2022. Wind damage catalogue of Romania: 2013-2022. Bucharest, Romania: Publishing Conspress. (10.5281/zenodo.7925409)
- Calotescu, I. et al. eds. 2022. 8th European-African Conference on Wind Engineering (8EACWE2022), September 20-23. Bucharest, Romania: Publishing Conspress. (10.5281/zenodo.8092029)
Conferences
- Jefferson, A. D. and Chitez, A. 2015. A continuum coupled thermo-hygro mechanical time-dependent model for concrete. Presented at: CONCREEP 10: Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Vienna, Austria, 21-23 September 2015Proceedings: CONCREEP 10: Mechanics and Physics of Creep, Shrinkage, and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures. American Society of Civil Engineers pp. 397-403., (10.1061/9780784479346.047)
- Jefferson, A. D. and Chitez, A. 2013. Porosity development in a numerical model for concrete shrinkage. Presented at: Fifth Biot Conference on Poromechanics, Vienna, Austria, 10-12 July 2013 Presented at Hellmich, C., Pichler, B. and Adam, D. eds.Poromechanics V - Proceedings of the 5th Biot Conference on Poromechanics. ASCE pp. 618-625., (10.1061/9780784412992.073)
Thesis
- Chitez, A. 2014. Coupled thermo-hygro-chemical modelling of self-healing processes in cementitious materials. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Teaching
I am currently ACE Year 4 Tutor and I am contributing to several modules related to structural design and building materials in year 2 Structural Analysis and Design, and year 4 Design Feasibility modules.
In year 2 module Structural Analysis and Design I deliver lectures on loss of stability of the steel structures and I run the Concrete Lab sessions where tests on fresh and hardended paste are carried out.
In year 4 module Design Feasibility I organize and lead the Field Course to London. Within this module students learn about the feasibility principles in civil engineering projects by means of descriptive and computed-based tasks focused on investigating the structural solutions adopted for different types of bridges, roof structures, and health care buildings.
I am also supervising individual and research projects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Supervisions
Areas of supervision:
Corrosion in cementitious materials
Electrically conductive concrete
Numerical modelling of cementitious materials
Contact Details
+44 29225 14633
Queen's Buildings - East Building, Room Room E/3.14, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Research themes
Specialisms
- Cement and Concrete Science
- Numerical modelling and mechanical characterisation
- corrosion
- wind engineering