The next appointment in the PhDTalks seminar series will take place on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, in Grandori Room (Building 4), from 12:00 to 13:00 CET.

PhDTalks is a series of seminars and discussions among PhD candidates. The events aim to provide a space for networking among doctoral students and for engaging with the many projects developed within our department.

The speaker Valerio Maugeri will deliver a seminar entitled “Ageing effects in metro tunnel ground-borne vibrations: a combined numerical and experimental approach”

At the end of the event, a light refreshment will be offered, sponsored by the department.

The seminar will also be accessible online at the following link.

Abstract
Ground-borne vibrations generated by metro trains can affect human comfort, structural integrity, and the operation of sensitive equipment. The role of ballast ageing in the dynamic response of track-tunnel-soil systems remains poorly understood, motivating dedicated investigation. A combined numerical and experimental framework is presented. On the numerical side, two computationally efficient three-dimensional models are adopted: (i) a novel formulation in which track and tunnel are modeled as beam elements coupled to dynamic impedance functions, and (ii) a 2.5D Finite Element model with Perfectly Matched Layers developed in a fully open-source environment. Experimentally, ballast dynamic behavior is characterized through cyclic simple shear and seismic laboratory tests with controlled degradation, as well as through in situ active MASW surveys. The combined approach investigates vibration propagation under different ballast degradation conditions.

Speaker’s Bio
Valerio Maugeri holds an MSc in Structural Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, obtained in 2023. He is currently a PhD candidate in Structural, Seismic, and Geotechnical Engineering (39th cycle, final year). His main technical expertise lies in dynamic soil-structure interaction and in numerical and experimental methodologies involving seismic wave propagation.

His current research focuses on ground-borne vibrations generated by metro trains, with particular attention to how ageing and degradation of infrastructure components influence vibration levels perceived in the surrounding environment.

In his free time, he enjoys travelling, watching movies, and spending time with friends.