![Riccardo Maddalena PhD, CEng, CSci, CEnv, MIMMM, CAPM, SFHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3894?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Riccardo Maddalena
(he/him)
PhD, CEng, CSci, CEnv, MIMMM, CAPM, SFHEA
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Riccardo Maddalena
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Civil Engineering
Member
Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Overview
#myself
Pronouns: He/Him/His; Hear my name
I am a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Civil Engineering at Cardiff University and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education (SFHEA). I am a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Scientist (CSci) and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), with a focus on multidisciplinary applied research. I gained experience in the automotive industry, civil engineering consultancy and academia. Since I joined Cardiff University, I have been working on the development of self-healing and biomimetic infrastructure materials, and low-carbon concrete. Our recent project WASTEREBUILT, on the use of waste foundry sand in concrete, was shortlisted for the 2024 Sustainable Future Awards (IOM3). Read more here.
I am passionate about #equality and #diversity, especially in STEMM, and a pround member of the LGBTQ+ comunity. I am the Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the School of Engineering, Cardiff University.
#myinterests
My main research activity is associated with the REsilient Structures and COnstruction Materials (RESCOM) Research Group. My interests are on characterisation and durability of building materials, cement and concrete science, chemistry and engineering applications. I have experience in bench-scale and pilot-scale experiment design. I use analytical techniques for bulk-scale and nano-scale characterisation studies (XRD, SEM, TGA/DSC, Raman and NMR spectroscopy, calorimetry, laser light scattering technique for PSD, MIP). I am also interested in carbon offsets and life cycle assessment (LCA) of innovative infrastructure materials and engineering solutions.
I am the Director of the DURALAB, the first interdisciplinary durability testing facility in Wales, a “time-capsule”, capable of simulating hundreds of years of ageing and deterioration of materials in a matter of weeks.
I am member of the Cardiff Materials Research Network, an interdisciplinary team of academics across different Schools with a focus on materials' structure and properties.
#myresearch
Past and ongoing research activities and interests:
- low-carbon cements (watch this video to learn more)
- lithium mining waste in concrete (the LITHICRETE Project)
- self-healing and bio-mimetic infrastructure materials
- recycled and recyclable building materials
- radionuclide immobilisation into cement minerals
- life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint analysis
- novel low-carbon (geo)materials
- in-situ concrete repair solutions
- in-situ and ex-situ thermal treatments of polluted soils and sediments.
#myroles
- Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (School of Engineering)
- Director of DURALAB testing facility
- Member of the University Race Equality Supervisory Panel
- Member of the Cardiff Materials Research Network Steering Committee
- Member of the EPSRC ECR Engineering Forum
#vacancies
Interested in a PhD position in my group? We have a funded scholarship on lithium mining waste. Read more here.
#getintouch
Do you want to discuss your ideas with me? Get in touch via email or book directly a meeting (online or in person).
Publication
2025
- Almutlaqah, A. , Maddalena, R. and Kulasegaram, S. 2025. Optimising thermo-mechanical treatments of residual rice husk ash for cement blending. Case Studies in Construction Materials 22 e04103. (10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04103)
- Ashish, D. K. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Understanding the micro-credentials of embodied carbon from a materials science perspective. In: Prizeman, O. ed. Embodied Carbon for Sustainable Building Conservation. London, UK: Routledge. , pp.21-31. (10.4324/9781003527404-4)
- Ashish, D. K. , Sharma, H. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Recent advances in utilizing industrial wastes for enhanced concrete performance. In: Adesina, A. ed. Recent Trends in the Sustainability Improvement and Use of Wastes in Cementitious Materials: Utilization of Wastes and Locally Sourced Materials. Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering Elsevier. , pp.131-148. (10.1016/b978-0-443-15670-0.00006-5)
- Liang, X. , Zhu, H. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Surface-modified bamboo fibre-reinforced LC3 concrete: Microstructure, hydration and durability [Abstract]. Presented at: 44th Cement & Concrete Science Conference Leeds, UK 15-16 September 2025.
- Van Mullem, T. , De Belie, N. and Maddalena, R. 2025. From crack closure to durability improvement of cementitious mortar with knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Developments in the Built Environment 24 100812. (10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100812)
2024
- Almutlaqah, A. et al. 2024. Performance of self-compacting concrete with treated rice husk ash at different curing temperatures. Journal of Building Engineering 97 110652. (10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110652)
- Binti, Q. et al., 2024. Waste foundry sand (WFS) as aggregate replacement for green concrete. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.52-54. (10.18573/conf1.m)
- Degani, I. , Maddalena, R. and Kulasegaram, S. 2024. Shrinkage potential and water transport properties of self-compacting concrete at different temperatures. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.66-69. (10.18573/conf1.q)
- Li, K. et al., 2024. RILEM recommendation from TC 289-DCM: guideline for designing and operating long-term marine exposure sites. Materials and Structures 57 (3) 44. (10.1617/s11527-024-02319-9)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2024. Mind the gap: A new conversation starter game for EDI practitioners. Presented at: Learning and Teaching Conference 2024 Cardiff, UK 12-13 September 2024.
- Marangu, J. M. et al., 2024. Durability of ternary blended concrete incorporating rice husk ash and calcined clay. Buildings 14 (5) 1201. (10.3390/buildings14051201)
- Neghabat Shirazi, B. et al., 2024. Agricultural waste as a cementitious material — rice husk ash. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: 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)
- Patel, S. et al. 2024. Mind the gap: A new conversation starter game for EDI practitioners. Presented at: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2024: The future is now: Building EDI practice for the changing world of HE 2024 . Liverpool, UK 6 -7 March 2024.
- Wesgate, R. et al. 2024. Impact of artificial accelerated ageing of PVC surfaces and surface degradation on disinfectant efficacy. Journal of Hospital Infection 149 , pp.1-13. (10.1016/j.jhin.2023.12.021)
2023
- Almutlaqah, A. et al. 2023. The effect of temperature and ageing on the behaviour of self-compacting concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials. Presented at: synercrete23 14-16 June 2023. Published in: Jędrzejewska, A. et al., International RILEM Conference on Synergising expertise towards sustainability and robustness of cement-based materials and concrete structures. Vol. 2.RILEM Bookseries Springer(10.1007/978-3-031-33187-9_86)
- Kafodya, I. et al., 2023. Mechanical performance and physico-chemical properties of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) in Malawi. Buildings 13 (3) 740. (10.3390/buildings13030740)
- Maddalena, R. 2023. Freeze/thaw resistance of mortar with recycled tyre waste at varying particle sizes. Materials 16 (3) 1301. (10.3390/ma16031301)
- Nishiwaki, T. et al., 2023. Terahertz (Thz) wave imaging in civil engineering to assess self-healing of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC). Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology (10.3151/jact.21.58)
- Patel, S. et al. 2023. Mind the gap: a new conversation starter game for EDI. Presented at: GW4 EDI STEMM Conference Cardiff 13-14 September 2023.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2023. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: next steps. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23) London 3-4 July 2023. Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23). ScienceOpen. (10.14293/ICMB230013)
2022
- Li, K. et al., 2022. Long-term field exposure of structural concretes in marine environment: state-of-the-art review by RILEM TC 289-DCM. Materials and Structures 55 (7) 205. (10.1617/s11527-022-02027-2)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2022. Applications and life cycle assessment of shape memory polyethylene terephthalate in concrete for crack closure. Polymers 14 (5) 933. (10.3390/polym14050933)
2021
- Litina, C. et al., 2021. Evaluation of methodologies for assessing self-healing performance of concrete with mineral expansive agents: an interlaboratory study. Materials 14 (8) 2024. (10.3390/ma14082024)
- Maddalena, R. , Taha, H. and Gardner, D. 2021. Self-healing potential of supplementary cementitious materials in cement mortars: sorptivity and pore structure. Developments in the Built Environment 6 100044. (10.1016/j.dibe.2021.100044)
- 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. Published in: Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds. Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University. , pp.306-310.
- 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. Published in: Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds. Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University. , pp.302-305.
2020
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2020. A crack closure system for cementitious composite materials using knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Cement and Concrete Composites 114 103757. (10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103757)
2019
- Maddalena, R. 2019. Effect of silica particle size on the formation of calcium silicate hydrate using thermal analysis. Thermochimica Acta 672 , pp.142-149. (10.1016/j.tca.2018.09.003)
- Maddalena, R. and Gardner, D. 2019. The healing touch. Construction and Civil Engineering Magazine (167)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2019. Direct synthesis of a solid calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H). Construction and Building Materials 223 , pp.554-565. (10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.06.024)
- Maddalena, R. , Taha, H. and Gardner, D. 2019. Enhanced self-healing using conventional supplementary cementitious materials. Presented at: 39th Cement and Concrete Science Conference 2019 Bath, England 9-10 September 2019. 39th Cement and Concrete Science Conference 2019. University of Bath. , pp.43-46.
2018
- Maddalena, R. , Roberts, J. J. and Hamilton, A. 2018. Can Portland cement be replaced by low-carbon alternative materials? A study on the thermal properties and carbon emissions of innovative cements. Journal of Cleaner Production 186 , pp.933-942. (10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.138)
2017
- Falciglia, P. P. et al., 2017. Remediation of Hg-contaminated marine sediments by simultaneous application of enhancing agents and microwave heating (MWH). Chemical Engineering Journal 321 , pp.1-10. (10.1016/j.cej.2017.03.097)
- Maddalena, R. and Hamilton, A. 2017. Low-pressure silica injection for porosity reduction in cementitious materials. Construction and Building Materials 134 , pp.610-616. (10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.11.016)
2016
- Falciglia, P. P. et al., 2016. Lab-scale investigation on remediation of diesel-contaminated aquifer using microwave energy. Journal of Environmental Management 167 , pp.196-205. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.046)
- Maddalena, R. , Mali, A. and Hamilton, A. 2016. Low-pressure nano-silica injection on cement for crack-healing and water transport. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2016) Leuven, Belgium 13-15 September 2016. Published in: Van Balen, K. and Verstynge, E. eds. Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions: Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Controls Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions. London: CRC Press(10.1201/9781315616995)
Articles
- Almutlaqah, A. et al. 2024. Performance of self-compacting concrete with treated rice husk ash at different curing temperatures. Journal of Building Engineering 97 110652. (10.1016/j.jobe.2024.110652)
- Almutlaqah, A. , Maddalena, R. and Kulasegaram, S. 2025. Optimising thermo-mechanical treatments of residual rice husk ash for cement blending. Case Studies in Construction Materials 22 e04103. (10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04103)
- Falciglia, P. P. et al., 2016. Lab-scale investigation on remediation of diesel-contaminated aquifer using microwave energy. Journal of Environmental Management 167 , pp.196-205. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.046)
- Falciglia, P. P. et al., 2017. Remediation of Hg-contaminated marine sediments by simultaneous application of enhancing agents and microwave heating (MWH). Chemical Engineering Journal 321 , pp.1-10. (10.1016/j.cej.2017.03.097)
- Kafodya, I. et al., 2023. Mechanical performance and physico-chemical properties of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) in Malawi. Buildings 13 (3) 740. (10.3390/buildings13030740)
- Li, K. et al., 2022. Long-term field exposure of structural concretes in marine environment: state-of-the-art review by RILEM TC 289-DCM. Materials and Structures 55 (7) 205. (10.1617/s11527-022-02027-2)
- Li, K. et al., 2024. RILEM recommendation from TC 289-DCM: guideline for designing and operating long-term marine exposure sites. Materials and Structures 57 (3) 44. (10.1617/s11527-024-02319-9)
- Litina, C. et al., 2021. Evaluation of methodologies for assessing self-healing performance of concrete with mineral expansive agents: an interlaboratory study. Materials 14 (8) 2024. (10.3390/ma14082024)
- Maddalena, R. 2019. Effect of silica particle size on the formation of calcium silicate hydrate using thermal analysis. Thermochimica Acta 672 , pp.142-149. (10.1016/j.tca.2018.09.003)
- Maddalena, R. 2023. Freeze/thaw resistance of mortar with recycled tyre waste at varying particle sizes. Materials 16 (3) 1301. (10.3390/ma16031301)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2020. A crack closure system for cementitious composite materials using knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Cement and Concrete Composites 114 103757. (10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103757)
- Maddalena, R. and Gardner, D. 2019. The healing touch. Construction and Civil Engineering Magazine (167)
- Maddalena, R. and Hamilton, A. 2017. Low-pressure silica injection for porosity reduction in cementitious materials. Construction and Building Materials 134 , pp.610-616. (10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.11.016)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2019. Direct synthesis of a solid calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H). Construction and Building Materials 223 , pp.554-565. (10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.06.024)
- Maddalena, R. , Roberts, J. J. and Hamilton, A. 2018. Can Portland cement be replaced by low-carbon alternative materials? A study on the thermal properties and carbon emissions of innovative cements. Journal of Cleaner Production 186 , pp.933-942. (10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.138)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2022. Applications and life cycle assessment of shape memory polyethylene terephthalate in concrete for crack closure. Polymers 14 (5) 933. (10.3390/polym14050933)
- Maddalena, R. , Taha, H. and Gardner, D. 2021. Self-healing potential of supplementary cementitious materials in cement mortars: sorptivity and pore structure. Developments in the Built Environment 6 100044. (10.1016/j.dibe.2021.100044)
- Marangu, J. M. et al., 2024. Durability of ternary blended concrete incorporating rice husk ash and calcined clay. Buildings 14 (5) 1201. (10.3390/buildings14051201)
- Nishiwaki, T. et al., 2023. Terahertz (Thz) wave imaging in civil engineering to assess self-healing of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC). Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology (10.3151/jact.21.58)
- Van Mullem, T. , De Belie, N. and Maddalena, R. 2025. From crack closure to durability improvement of cementitious mortar with knotted shape memory polymer (k-SMP) fibres. Developments in the Built Environment 24 100812. (10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100812)
- Wesgate, R. et al. 2024. Impact of artificial accelerated ageing of PVC surfaces and surface degradation on disinfectant efficacy. Journal of Hospital Infection 149 , pp.1-13. (10.1016/j.jhin.2023.12.021)
Book sections
- Ashish, D. K. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Understanding the micro-credentials of embodied carbon from a materials science perspective. In: Prizeman, O. ed. Embodied Carbon for Sustainable Building Conservation. London, UK: Routledge. , pp.21-31. (10.4324/9781003527404-4)
- Ashish, D. K. , Sharma, H. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Recent advances in utilizing industrial wastes for enhanced concrete performance. In: Adesina, A. ed. Recent Trends in the Sustainability Improvement and Use of Wastes in Cementitious Materials: Utilization of Wastes and Locally Sourced Materials. Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering Elsevier. , pp.131-148. (10.1016/b978-0-443-15670-0.00006-5)
Conferences
- Almutlaqah, A. et al. 2023. The effect of temperature and ageing on the behaviour of self-compacting concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials. Presented at: synercrete23 14-16 June 2023. Published in: Jędrzejewska, A. et al., International RILEM Conference on Synergising expertise towards sustainability and robustness of cement-based materials and concrete structures. Vol. 2.RILEM Bookseries Springer(10.1007/978-3-031-33187-9_86)
- Binti, Q. et al., 2024. Waste foundry sand (WFS) as aggregate replacement for green concrete. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.52-54. (10.18573/conf1.m)
- Degani, I. , Maddalena, R. and Kulasegaram, S. 2024. Shrinkage potential and water transport properties of self-compacting concrete at different temperatures. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.66-69. (10.18573/conf1.q)
- Liang, X. , Zhu, H. and Maddalena, R. 2025. Surface-modified bamboo fibre-reinforced LC3 concrete: Microstructure, hydration and durability [Abstract]. Presented at: 44th Cement & Concrete Science Conference Leeds, UK 15-16 September 2025.
- Maddalena, R. , Mali, A. and Hamilton, A. 2016. Low-pressure nano-silica injection on cement for crack-healing and water transport. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2016) Leuven, Belgium 13-15 September 2016. Published in: Van Balen, K. and Verstynge, E. eds. Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions: Anamnesis, Diagnosis, Therapy, Controls Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions. London: CRC Press(10.1201/9781315616995)
- Maddalena, R. et al. 2024. Mind the gap: A new conversation starter game for EDI practitioners. Presented at: Learning and Teaching Conference 2024 Cardiff, UK 12-13 September 2024.
- Maddalena, R. , Taha, H. and Gardner, D. 2019. Enhanced self-healing using conventional supplementary cementitious materials. Presented at: 39th Cement and Concrete Science Conference 2019 Bath, England 9-10 September 2019. 39th Cement and Concrete Science Conference 2019. University of Bath. , pp.43-46.
- Neghabat Shirazi, B. et al., 2024. Agricultural waste as a cementitious material — rice husk ash. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: 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)
- Patel, S. et al. 2023. Mind the gap: a new conversation starter game for EDI. Presented at: GW4 EDI STEMM Conference Cardiff 13-14 September 2023.
- Patel, S. et al. 2024. Mind the gap: A new conversation starter game for EDI practitioners. Presented at: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2024: The future is now: Building EDI practice for the changing world of HE 2024 . Liverpool, UK 6 -7 March 2024.
- 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. Published in: Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds. Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University. , pp.306-310.
- 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. Published in: Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds. Proceedings Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020). Cardiff: Cardiff University. , pp.302-305.
- Whitman, C. J. et al. 2023. Hygrothermal monitoring of replacement infill panels for historic timber-frame buildings: next steps. Presented at: 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23) London 3-4 July 2023. Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings 2023 (ICMB23). ScienceOpen. (10.14293/ICMB230013)
Research
#funding |
||||
| Title | People | Funder | Value | Duration |
| O LLAITH I GYNNES: Low Carbon Solutions for Rural Welsh Homes | Maddalena R. (Co-I), Whitman C. (PI), Fernandez J. (Co-I) | PBIAA | £100,000 | 01/2026-12/2026 |
| WASTEREBUILT 2.0 - The next steps | Maddalena R. (PI), Pugh J. (Co-I) | KEPS-EPSRC | £14,000 | 09/2025-03/2026 |
| Scaling Self-Healing Concrete Technology for Marine Environment | Gardner D. (PI), Maddalena R. (Co-) and MIMICRETE | Henry Royce Institute | £76,000 | 09/2025-02/2026 |
| SENSECARB - nanostructured SENSors for Early detection of CARBonation in concrete structures | Maddalena R. (UK PI), Notargiacomo A. (Italy PI), Gardner D (Co-I), Chitez A. (Co-I), Jin F. (Co-I) | Royal Society | £12,000 | 11/2024-10/2026 |
| LITHICRETE - decarbonise the concrete industry by recycling battery-grade lithium waste | Maddalena R. (PI) | EPSRC | £672,000 | 04/2025-03/2027 |
| Reuse of fly ash and ceramic waste as sustainable building materials | Maddalena R. (PI) | Cardiff Capital Region & Porcement | £15,600 | 07/2024-12/2024 |
| REWASCON - REgional WAste as a resource for Sustainable CONstruction materials | Maddalena R. (Cardiff PI) and Ferreira G. (UNICAMP PI) | Cardiff University - UNICAMP (Brazil) &Taith mobility fund | £4,200 | 06/2024-12/2024 |
| Mimicrete Vascular Self-healing Solution in Railway Practice - Phase 2 Demonstration | Gardner D. (PI), Maddalena R (Co-I), Jefferson Tony (Co-I) and MIMICRETE | Innovate UK | £747,500 | 01/2024-12/2024 |
| FUSCO - Functionalised natural fibres for sustainable Concrete | Maddalena R. (Cardiff PI), Gauss C. (Waikato PI) | Cardiff Univertsity - Waikato University (NZ) | £10,000 | 05/2023-01/2024 |
| MEECE - Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence | Ahmadian R. (PI), R Maddalena (Co-I), and others | WEFO | £1,150,000 | 10/2021-05/2023 |
| Decarbonising the concrete industry (PhD Scholarship) | Maddalena R. (PI), Gardner D. (Co-I) | Knights Brown, Weir Group & Carbon Upcycling | £84,000 | 04/2023-09/2026 |
| WASC - Welsh Fly Ash for Sustainable Concrete | Maddalena R. | CU (ENGIN) & Celtic Minerals | £7,000 | 03/2023-07/2023 |
| WasteReBuilt - Waste foundry Sand in Concrete | Maddalena R. (PI), Fei J. (Co-I) | IAA-EPSRC | £45,000 | 03/2023-02/2024 |
| Hygrothermal Monitoring of Timber-Frame Replacement Infill Panels | Whitman C. (PI), Maddalena R. (Co-I) | Historic England | £50,000 | 01/2023-12/2024 |
| Concrete MOT - Durability of concrete by means of electrical resistivity | Maddalena R. (PI) | CU (ENGIN) | £7,000 | 07/2022-06/2023 |
| QUANTUM EFFICIENCY HUB | Hou B. (PI), Maddalena R.(Co-I), and others |
HEFCW via CU |
£404,000 | 06/2022-04/2023 |
| Self-healing concrete structures in the context of enhancing the delivery of a major highway project | Gardner D. (PI), Maddalena R.(Co-I) | £30,000 | 10/2021-10/2024 | |
| Waste Valorisation in Concrete Production via CO2 Sequestration (value S$279,955) | Mingshan Z.(PI), Fei J. (Co-I) Maddalena R.(Co-I), and others |
Building and Construction Authority (Singapore) |
£166,500 | 09/2022-03/2025 |
| DURALAB (Durability and Characterisation Lab) | Maddalena R. (PI), (and others) |
HEFCW via CU |
£383,000 | 09/2021- 04/2022 |
| Resilient Materials 4 Life (RM4L) | Jefferson T. (PI), Maddalena R. (Co-I) (and others) | UKRI-EPSRC | £4,837,625 | 04/2017-04/2022 |
| TETCRETE 2.0 | Maddalena R. (PI), Sweeney J. (Co-I) | IAA-EPSRC | £19,500 | 06/2021-02/2022 |
| Themo-crete: thermal conductivity of building materials | Maddalena R. (PI) | CU (ENGIN) | £6,500 | 03/2021-07/2021 |
| CCK (Circular Cement in Kenya) | Maddalena R. (PI), Latif E. (Co-I), Marangu J. (Fellow) | UKRI - GCRF | £6,100 | 01/2021-04/2021 |
| FISH (Fibre-reinforced Self-Healing) Concrete (value ¥2,700,000) | Maddalena R. (Fellow), Nishiwaki T. (Supervisor) | JSPS | £15,000 | 05/2019-08/2019 |
#Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) |
||
Ongoing projects |
Student |
Degree |
| Durability of self-compacting concrete | Ibrahim Degani | PhD |
| Sustainable self-compacting concrete and numerical modelling | Ayman Almutlaqah | PhD |
| Design and durability of low-carbon sustainable concrete | Ahmad Alhamdan | PhD |
| Decarbonising the concrete industry through waste valorisation | Joseph Pugh | PhD |
| Mechanical properties and degradation evolution behaviours of composites reinforced by plant fibres | Xinru Liang | PhD |
| Biological healing in limestone calcined clay (LC3) cement systems | Tong Liu | PhD |
| Locking CO2 into cement: new perspectives from advanced spectroscopic techniques | Marc Massiah-Quinlan | PhD |
| Converting waste rubber into a valuable commodity using designed enzymes | Chris Knill | PhD |
Completed Projects |
Student and Degree |
Year |
| Tetcrete as a novel plastic reinforcement for concrete (Tohoku University, Japan) | Chihiro Kobayashi (MSc) | 2025 |
| Durability of ladle furnace slag mortars (UniCamp, Brazil) | Everton de Freitas (PhD) | 2024 |
| Durability of CFRP concrete under wet/dry cycles | Nirthiha Fernando (MPhil) | 2024 |
| Tetcrete for crack control and self-healing (with National Highways and Costain) | Thomas Moore (MPhil) | 2024 |
Do you want to discuss your ideas with me? Get in touch via email or book directly an online meeting.
Teaching
I am an experienced academic teacher, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). I am committed to creating inclusive, research-informed, and practice-based learning experiences that connect theory with real-world engineering challenges. My approach emphasises active, collaborative, and ethical learning, supporting students to become reflective professionals. Through equality, diversity, and inclusion, I aim to foster an environment where every learner can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the engineering community.
#2025/26
- Module Leader of Fundamentals of Civil Engineering (Year 1)
- Structural Engineering and Design (Year 2) - Concrete design and testing
- Advanced Structural Analysis and materials science fo civil engineering (Year 3) - life cycle assessment
- 3rd Year project supervision
- MSc project supervision
Do you need help with calculations or tutorials? Get in touch via email or book directly a meeting (online or in person).
Biography
My Studies
- 2018: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, UK
- 2018: PGCert in Researcher Professional Development, University of Strathclyde, UK
- 2013: Laurea Magistrale (MSc equivalent) in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Catania, Italy
- 2011: Laurea in Civil and Environmental Engineering (BEng equivalent), University of Catania, Italy
Honours and awards
- 2023: Outstanding Contribution Award (OCA) for my work in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Cardiff University, UK
- 2022: Outstanding Contribution Award (OCA) for excellence in research, Cardiff University, UK
- 2019: JSPS Fellowship at Tohoku University, Japan
- 2017: Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (GREAT Project), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- 2014: Remediation Technologies (REMTECH) Best MScThesis Award, Ferrara, Italy
- 2009: Vulcanus in Japan, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.
Professional memberships
- Chartered Engineer (CEng), UK Engineering Council
- Chartered Scientist (CSci), UK Science Council
- Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), UK Society for the Environment
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Member (MIMMM) of the Institute of Mineral, Materials and Mining (IOM3) since 2016
- Member (MIET) of the Intitution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 2016 - 2023
- RILEM Senior Member since 2020
- Ingegnere Civile ed Ambientale (Chartered Civil Engineer equivalent, Italian Engineering Council).
Academic positions
- 2024 - present: Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Cardiff University, UK
- 2020 - 2024: Lecturer in Civil Engineering at Cardiff University, UK
- 2019: JSPS Postdoctoral fellow at Tohoku University, Japan
- 2017 - 2020: Research Associate and RM4L Project Manager, Cardiff University, UK
- 2017 - 2018: Visiting Researcher, University of Strathclyde, UK
- 2017: Research Assistant, University of Strathclyde, UK
- 2017: Visiting Researcher, Tsinghua University, PR China
- 2011-2012: Civil Engineer, Technoside Srl, Italy
- 2009-2010: Materials Engineer, Akebono Brake Co. Ltd, Japan
Committees and reviewing
- Co-Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) Committee of School of Engineering, Cardiff University
- Member of the University Senate
- Member of Cardiff University Race Equality Supervisory Panel (RESP)
- Member of the UK Cementitious Group, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).
- Member of the EPSRC Reviewers College, JSPS and Horizon EU
- Member of the EPSRC Engineering Early Career Forum
- Editorial Board Member for Case Studies in Construction Materials.
- Journal Reviewer for Elsevier, Springer, MDPI, ASCE, ICE journals.
Supervisions
#SupervisedAreas
I am available to supervise PhD, MPhil students, project students (undergraduate and postgraduate), interns and visiting students on the following topics:
- Self-healing concrete
- Re-use of waste into concrete and mechanical behaviour
- Thermal analysis and thermal imaging of cement and concrete
- Chemistry of cement mortar and concrete
- Water transport in concrete
- Green low-carbon concrete
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint of infrastructure materials
- ...I am also open to other topics.
Interested in a PhD position in my group? We have a funded scholarship on lithium mining waste. Read more here.
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). Explore also the Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) PhD scholarships.
Do you want to discuss your ideas with me? Get in touch via email or book directly a meeting (online or in person).
Current supervision
Ibrahim Mohamed Degani
Ayman Almutlaqah
Hassan Alasmari
Tong Liu
Xinru Liang
Chihiro Kobayashi
Everton De Freitas Cordova De Souza
Augusto Gomes Da Silva
Tom Moore
Contact Details
[email protected]
+44 29208 76150
Queen's Buildings - Central Building, Room Room C/4.09, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
+44 29208 76150
Queen's Buildings - Central Building, Room Room C/4.09, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Research themes
Specialisms
- Civil engineering
- Life cycle assessment
- Construction materials
- Cement and Concrete Science
- circular economy
