Antonino Iannuzzo

Antonino Iannuzzo is an Assistant Professor (RTDB) in Structural Mechanics at the University of Sannio and Rita Levi Montalcini fellow. His research encompasses aspects such as the kinematics and statics of unilateral structures through new optimization strategies, computational mechanics, energy-based methods, crack pattern identification and inverse structural analysis, form-finding of compressed shells, and rigid block dynamics.

He obtained his degree in structural engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, where he completed his PhD in 2017. His dissertation, "A New Rigid Block Model for Masonry Structures", proposed an innovative approach to modelling fracture patterns on masonry structures subjected to complex loading conditions and gross boundary displacements. He introduced the Piecewise-Rigid Displacement (PRD) and Continuous Displacement for Fractures (CDF) methods as new numerical energy-based strategies. Following his PhD, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the P.LIN.I.V.S. Study Centre, focusing on the large-scale assessment of ordinary masonry buildings under seismic actions.

From November 2018 to March 2022, Antonino held a postdoctoral position at ETH Zurich with the Block Research Group within the SNSF-funded project "Practical assessment strategies for vaulted unreinforced masonry structures". This project focused on developing COMPAS Masonry, a computational framework for evaluating old and designing novel masonry/unilateral constructions. In his role, Antonino oversaw and coordinated the research activities of three PhD students. Their work encompassed investigating the effects of imperfections on masonry structures, defining new optimization algorithms for assessing generic masonry 3D vaults using Thrust Network Analysis (TNA), and developing innovative energy-based methods for analysing and designing novel 3D compressive structures.

In the second part of 2022, Antonino served as a Senior Lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. During this period, his primary focus was advancing numerical approaches to design and analyse no-tension constructions. 

Since 2019, he has contributed to the organization and served as an invited teacher at the International Summer School on Historic Masonry Structures (HIMASS). This collaborative program involves institutions such as University of Salerno, ETH Zurich, University RomaTre, University of California Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Furthermore, he co-authored the chapter titled "Discretized Continuum Approaches: From Continuum to Discontinuum" in the book 'Discrete Computational Mechanics of Masonry Structures - Springer.'

In recognition of his research and career achievements, Antonino was granted the Rita Levi Montalcini Fellowship by the Italian Ministry of University and Research in late 2022. This fellowship provides financial support to exceptional international scholars who have previously conducted their research abroad, enabling them to pursue their studies at the highest level within the Italian academy.