Professor Alessandro Tarantino

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Personal statement

I joined the University of Strathclyde in 2010 as Professor of Experimental Geomechanics to establish a research group in geomechanics and geohydraulics specialised in laboratory and field investigation of multiphase geomaterials.

The common denominator of my research is the presence of at least two fluid phases (liquid and gas) in the medium pore space. Under these conditions, different physical processes with high level of coupling (liquid flow, vapour flow, heat transfer, and solid matrix deformation) control the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of the porous medium, which is therefore relatively complex to investigate and model.

In Civil and Environmental Engineering, multiphase (unsaturated) porous media are typically encountered in the upper portion of the soil profile, between the ground surface and the ground water table/phreatic surface. Processes occurring in this zone are therefore the focus of my research, and includes rainwater infiltration, groundwater recharge, pollutant transport, soil shrinkage and heave, surface cracking, soil subsidence, and subsurface water flow and runoff (i.e. flood formation), and shallow landslides. Most of these processes have an interaction with the atmosphere and are therefore strongly affected by climate changes.

Multiphase (unsaturated) porous media are also encountered in several geo-infrastructures, including road, railway and flood embankments, dams, and tunnels where mechanical and hydraulic response (stability, deformation, hydraulic conductivity) is controlled by the interaction of the ground with the atmosphere.

Expertise

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Qualifications

I hold an MEng degree in Civil Engineering from the Università di Napoli Federico II in Italy (1993) and a PhD in Geotecnical Engineering from the Politecnico di Torino in Italy (1998).

I was awarded the title of Professional Engineer in Italy in 1993.

Publications

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Publications

Clay anisotropy : bridging the gap between micro and macro scales: Pagano Arianna Gea, Rollo Fabio, Magnanimo Vanessa, Tarantino Alessandro, Amorosi Angelo; Géotechnique (2026); https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.25.00450
Design of a capacitive probe for laboratory analysis of dry and wet soil electrical properties: Papini N, Villani Delle Vergini C, Scorzoni A, Cecconi M, Tarantino A, Placidi P; IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement Vol 75 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2026.3664369
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi effect on the hydrological regime in vegetated soil: Roberts-Self Eve G, Tarantino Alessandro; Géotechnique (2026)
Experimental investigation of the influence of the growth of saprotrophic fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus) on the aggregate stability of a silty sand: Zhang Qi, Nagy Benedek, Tarantino Alessandro, El Mountassir Grainne; E3S Web of Conferences Vol 642 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202564205007
Suction monitored apparatus to investigate shear strength of unsaturated granular material at low (total) stress: Nagy Benedek, El Mountassir Grainne, Tarantino Alessandro; E3S Web of Conferences Vol 642 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202564203025
Simulation framework for assessing VWC performance in low-cost smart agriculture sensors: Papini Nicola, Scorzoni Andrea, Placidi Pisana, Cecconi Manuela, Petroselli Chiara, Delle Vergini Carmine Villani, Caputo Domenico, Lovecchio Nicola, Tarantino Alessandro; 2025 IEEE Sensors Applications Symposium (SAS) 2025 IEEE Sensors Applications Symposium (SAS), pp. 1-6 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1109/sas65169.2025.11105160

More publications

Research

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Professional Activities

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering (Journal): Guest editor; 2008
Géotechnique (Journal): Editorial board member; 1/2011
Geotechnique (Journal): Editorial board member; 2009
Bringing vegetation-based solutions into geotechnical engineering design: how do we make it happen?: Speaker; 5/3/2024
Department of Agricultural Sciences - University of Naples Federico II: Visiting researcher; 5/2022
External Examiner of PhD Dissertation at Université Grenoble Alpes: Examiner; 28/1/2022

More professional activities

Projects

URETEK - Building damage due to drought-induced foundation subsidence: analysis of the mechanisms and controlling factors: Tarantino, Alessandro (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 01-Jan-2026
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION OF GEOSTRUCTURES: Tarantino, Alessandro (Principal Investigator) Pedrotti, Matteo (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2028
KTP - Will Rudd Davidson (Glasgow) Limited - To embed advanced modelling and monitoring strategies for new and heritage masonry structures.: Tubaldi, Enrico (Principal Investigator) De Angelis, Marco (Co-investigator) Moghaddasi Kelishomi, Hamed (Co-investigator) Patelli, Edoardo (Co-investigator) Sentenac, Phillippe (Co-investigator) Tarantino, Alessandro (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2028
Reduction of Uncertainties in risk assessment of structures and infrastructures against Natural hazards (REUN): Tubaldi, Enrico (Principal Investigator) De Angelis, Marco (Co-investigator) Pytharouli, Stella (Co-investigator) Tarantino, Alessandro (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2027
Incorporating ANSYS into the Undergraduate/Postgraduate curriculum of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde.: Moghaddasi Kelishomi, Hamed (Principal Investigator) Tarantino, Alessandro (Co-investigator) Bylya, Olga (Co-investigator); The ANSYS programme will be used to enhance teaching and learning in various undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (MEng/MSc) modules in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). The ANSYS software is comprehensive FEA/CFD package that encompasses wide spectrum of physics, multiphysics simulations and extensive material database. The incorporation of ANSYS into educational programs can have a transformative impact on both students and the broader community, aligning with Strathclyde University’s strategic plan for 2025(Strathclyde Vision 2025).
Total Funding: $20k; 01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2025
DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Nagy, Benedek: El Mountassir, Grainne (Principal Investigator) Tarantino, Alessandro (Co-investigator) Nagy, Benedek (Research Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2027