Staff Profile

I am chartered Civil Engineer in Italy since 2001 and I gained my PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from the Technical University of Bari (Italy) in 2004. I was appointed a lectureship in Geotechnical Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Newcastle University (UK) in 2009. From 2017, I am Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University and, from December 2019, Associate Professor at the Technical University of Bari. My research spans a variety of topics in computational modelling and soil science. My particular expertise is in theoretical and applied soil mechanics, with specific insight in advanced soil constitutive modelling and numerical simulation of wave propagation and soil dynamics problems. I have a strong track record of publishing in high quality journals and international conferences. My current research is mainly focused on the numerical assessment of the resilience of geotechnical structures during extreme events, including the analysis of natural and engineered slopes subjected to extreme rainfalls and the performance-based design of shallow foundations, excavations and tunnels in static and dynamic conditions. I act as reviewer for a number of international journals and for EPSRC-UK. I am member of the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT), the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics (SECED), the British Geotechnical Association (BGA) and the Italian Geotechnical Association (AGI). From 2019 to 2022, I have been part of the Editorial Panel of the journal "Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering" and, since 2023, I am part of the Editorial Board of "Computers and Geotechnics".

Career History and Education

Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering, Technical University of Bari, Italy, 2004

Research Associate, Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Bari, Italy, 2005-2009

Honorary Research Associate, School of Engineering, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK, 2005-2007

Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, UK, 2009-2017

Tenure Track Associate Professor (RTDB) in Geotechnics at the Technical University of Bari, Italy, 2017-2019

Visiting Fellow at Newcastle University, UK, 2017-present

Associate Professor in Geotechnics at the Technical University of Bari, Italy, 2019-present

Italian National Qualification as Full Professor in Geotechnics, from 9/11/2020 to 9/11/2030

Research Interests

Advanced constitutive modelling of clay behaviour, with particular reference to degradation of structure, anisotropy and non-coaxiality

Theoretical interpretation and modelling of the mechanical behaviour of natural soils and soft rocks

Analysis of the cyclic behaviour of clays, with particular reference to degradation of shear stiffness and related hysteretic dissipation

Numerical prediction of the at-rest earth pressure coefficient for normally consolidated soils using advanced constitutive models derived from the Critical State Soil Mechanics Theory

Dynamic analyses of soil-structure interaction using fully coupled approaches and advanced constitutive models

Ground response analyses using the equivalent visco-elastic method and fully coupled FE nonlinear schemes

Static and dynamic stability analyses of natural and artificial slopes using simple and advanced numerical approaches

Evaluation of roots mechanical contribution to slope stability by finite element modelling

Advanced numerical analysis of tunnel behaviour in structured clayey soils under seismic loading

Hydro-mechanical numerical modelling of slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction

Influence of input motion selection and soil variability on nonlinear ground response analyses

Selected Invited Lectures

2012: Invited Lecture on “Recent advances in site response analysis” at the Imperial College London, UK - SECED (The Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics) Meeting

2012: Invited Lecture on “Seismic performance-based analysis of geotechnical structures” - NGG (Northern Geotechnical Group) Meeting, Newcastle, UK

2012: Invited Lecture on “Advanced simulations of one- and two-dimensional dynamic geotechnical problems” - Dundee University, UK

2013: Panel Lecture on “EEFIT Return Mission to the L’Aquila Earthquake of 2009” at the Institution of Structural Engineers, London - Joint EEFIT/SECED/IStructE Meeting, London, UK

2013: Invited Lecture on “Recent advances in site response analysis” - BGS Edinburgh, UK

2015: Invited Lecture on “Seismic ground response at Lotung (Taiwan)” - University College London, UK

2016: Invited Lecture on “Investigating clay cyclic behaviour using a kinematic hardening soil model” - Cambridge University, UK

2016: Panel Lecture on “Numerical modelling of slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction: an overview” - ENPC, Paris, France

2018: Invited Lecture on “Fundamentals of modelling clay macro-behaviour” - 10th ALERT Olek Zienkiewicz Winterschool 2018, Technical University of Bari, Italy

2019: Invited Lecture on “Advanced dynamic analyses in geotechnical earthquake engineering: opportunities and challenges” - Hellenic Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (HSSMGE), Athens, Greece.

Professional Bodies and Committees

2006: Organising Committee Member of the 5^th Italian Conference of Researchers in Geotechnical Engineering (V CNRIG) “Fondazioni Superficiali e Profonde”, 15-16 September 2006, Bari, Italy

2013: Organising Committee Member of the SECED Young Engineers Conference, 4 July 2013, Newcastle, UK

2013-2017: Northern Geotechnical Group (NGG - UK) Committee Member

2014-2017: Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) Committee Member

2015: Scientific Committee Member and Convener of the session on “Numerical modelling in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering” in the SECED Conference on “Earthquake Risk and Engineering towards a Resilient World”, 9-10 July 2015, Cambridge, UK

2019: Scientific Committee Member and Invited Speaker of the 2nd International Conference on Seismic Design of Structures and Foundations, SeismiCON 2019, 24-25 June 2019, London, UK

2019-2022: Editorial Panel Member of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Geotechnical Engineering (ISSN 1353-2618 | E-ISSN 1751-8563)

Useful Links

https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=7KC1fEAAAAAJ&hl=it

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=23667148300

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gaetano_Elia

• Articles

  • Guzel Y, Elia G, Rouainia M, Falcone G. The Influence of Input Motion Scaling Strategies on Nonlinear Ground Response Analyses of Soft Soil Deposits. Geosciences 2023, 13(1), 17.
  • Cabangon LT, Elia G, Rouainia M, Keawsawasvong S. The effect of multi-directional seismic loading on the behaviour of tunnels in structured clays. Computers and Geotechnics 2023, 160, 105531.
  • Falcone G, Elia G, di Lernia A. Investigating the influence of a pre-existing shear band on the seismic response of ideal step-like slopes subjected to weak motions: preliminary results. Geosciences 2023, 13(5), 148.
  • di Lernia A, Cotecchia F, Elia G, Tagarelli V, Santaloia F, Palladino G. Assessing the influence of the hydraulic boundary conditions on clay slope stability: the Fontana Monte case study. Engineering Geology 2022, 297, 106509.
  • Simpson D, Rouainia M, Elia G. Mineralogical and Micro-structural Investigation into the Mechanical Behaviour of a Soft Calcareous Mudstone. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 2021, 54, 2707-2722.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M, Di Lernia A, D'Oria AF. Assessment of damping predicted by kinematic hardening soil models during strong motions. Geotechnique Letters 2021, 11(1), 48-55.
  • Federico AM, Bottiglieri O, Cafaro F, Elia G. Hydraulic Characterization of a Self-Weight Compacted Coal. Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica 2020, 42(1), 48-60.
  • Guzel Y, Rouainia M, Elia G. Effect of soil variability on nonlinear site response predictions: Application to the Lotung site. Computers and Geotechnics 2020, 121, 103444.
  • Cabangon LT, Elia G, Rouainia M. Modelling the transverse behaviour of circular tunnels in structured clayey soils during earthquakes. Acta Geotechnica 2019, 14(1), 163-178.
  • Elia G, Cotecchia F, Pedone P, Vaunat J, Vardon PJ, Pereira C, Springman SM, Rouainia M, Esch JV, Koda E, Josifovski J, Nocilla A, Askarinejad A, Stirling R, Helm P, Lollino P, Osinski P. Numerical modelling of slope-vegetation-atmosphere interaction: an overview. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 2017, 50(3), 249-270.
  • Rouainia M, Elia G, Panayides S, Scott P. Non-linear finite element prediction of the performance of a deep excavation in Boston Blue Clay. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 2017, 143(5), 04017005.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M, Karofyllakis D, Guzel Y. Modelling the non-linear site response at the LSST down-hole accelerometer array in Lotung. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 2017, 102, 1-14.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M. Investigating the cyclic behaviour of clays using a kinematic hardening soil model. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 2016, 88, 399-411.
  • Lollino P, Cotecchia F, Elia G, Mitaritonna G, Santaloia F. Interpretation of landslide mechanisms based on numerical modelling: two case-histories. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering 2016, 20(9), 1032-1053.
  • Rossetto T, D'Ayala D, Gori F, Persio R, Han J, Novelli V, Wilkinson SM, Alexander D, Hill M, Stephens S, Kontoe S, Elia G, Verrucci E, Vicini A, Shelley W, Foulser-Piggott R. The value of multiple earthquake missions: the EEFIT L'Aquila Earthquake experience. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 2014, 12(1), 277-305.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M. Performance evaluation of a shallow foundation built on structured clays under seismic loading. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 2014, 12(4), 1537-1561.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M. Seismic performance of an earth embankment using simple and advanced numerical approaches. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 2013, 139(7), 1115-1129.
  • Federico A, Popescu M, Elia G, Fidelibus C, Internò G, Murianni A. Prediction of time to slope failure: a general framework. Environmental Earth Sciences 2012, 66(1), 245-256.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A, Chan AHC, Kawadas MJ. Numerical prediction of the dynamic behaviour of two earth dams in Italy using a fully coupled nonlinear approach. International Journal of Geomechanics 2011, 11(6), 504-518.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A, Chan AHC, Kavvadas M. Fully coupled dynamic analysis of an earth dam. Géotechnique 2011, 61(7), 549-563.
  • Gentile F, Elia G, Elia R. Analysis of the stability of slopes reinforced by roots. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment 2010, 138, 189-200.
  • Amorosi A, Boldini D, Elia G. Parametric study on seismic ground response by finite element modelling. Computers and Geotechnics 2010, 37(4), 515-528.
  • Federico A, Elia G, Fidelibus C. Previsione del tempo di occorrenza di una frana. Giornale di Geologia Applicata 2009, 11, 3-13.
  • Federico A, Elia G, Murianni A. The at rest earth pressure coefficient prediction using simple elasto-plastic constitutive models. Computers and Geotechnics 2009, 36(1-2), 187-198.
  • Amorosi A, Elia G. Analisi dinamica accoppiata della diga Marana Capacciotti. Rivista Italiana di Geotecnica 2008, (4), 78-96.
  • Federico A, Elia G, Germano V. A short note on the earth pressure and mobilized angle of internal friction in one-dimensional compression of soils . Journal of GeoEngineering 2008, 3(1), 41-46.

• Book Chapters

  • Elia G. Site Response for Seismic Hazard Assessment. In: Michael Beer, Edoardo Patelli, Ioannis A. Kougioumtzoglou and Ivan Siu-Kui Au, ed. Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering. Berlin, Germany: Springer, 2015, pp.3266-3287.
  • Gentile F, Elia G, Elia RM. Finite element analysis of the stability of artificial slopes reinforced by roots. In: Mambretti, S, ed. Landslides. Southampton, UK: WIT Press, 2012, pp.63-78.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Elia G, Falcone G, Cotecchia F, Rouainia M. Analysis of the Effects of Seasonal Pore Pressure Variations on the Slope Stability Through Advanced Numerical Modelling. In: CNRIG 2019: Geotechnical Research for Land Protection and Development. 2019, Lecco, Italy: Springer.
  • Cabangon L, Elia G, Rouainia M. Numerical analysis of tunnel behaviour in clayey soils under seismic loads. In: 16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16ECEE). 2018, Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Guzel Y, Elia G, Rouainia M. Effect of statistical variation in soil dynamic properties on local site response: the case of Lotung. In: 16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (16ECEE). 2018, Thessaloniki, Greece: 16ECEE.
  • Guzel Y, Elia G, Rouainia M. The effect of input motion selection strategies on nonlinear ground response predictions. In: COMPDYN 2017 - 6th International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering. 2017, Rhodes Island, Greece: National Technical University of Athens.
  • Karofyllakis D, Elia G, Rouainia M. Seismic ground response at Lotung (Taiwan). In: COMPDYN 2015 - 5th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering. 2015, Crete Island, Greece: National Technical University of Athens.
  • Elia G, Rouainia M. Numerical analysis of the seismic response of an earth embankment. In: 18th UK Conference on Computational Mechanics (ACME-UK). 2010, Southampton, UK.
  • Gentile F, Elia G, Elia RM. Analysis of the stability of slopes reinforced by roots. In: Fifth International Conference on Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering. 2010, Pisa, Italy: WIT Press.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A. Constitutive models with kinematic hardening: effects on anisotropy and non-coaxiality. In: The Fourth Biot Conference on Poromechanics. 2009, Columbia University, New York, USA: Destech Pubns Inc.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A. Class A prediction of the dynamic behaviour of the San Pietro dam. In: 2nd Conference on Long Term Behaviour of Dams. 2009, Graz, Austria.
  • Federico A, Elia G. At-rest earth pressure coefficient and Poisson's ratio in normally consolidated soils. In: 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 2009, Alexandria, Egypt.
  • Amorosi A, Elia G, Chan AHC, Kavvadas M. Fully coupled dynamic analysis of a real earth dam overlaying a stiff natural clayey deposit using an advanced constitutive model. In: 12th International Conference of IACMAG. 2008, Goa, India.
  • Federico A, Elia G, Murianni A. A non-associated critical state model for the prediction of the at rest earth pressure coefficient in normally consolidated soils. In: 8th International Congress on Advances in Civil Engineering. 2008, Famagusta, North Cyprus.
  • Flora A, Lirer S, Amorosi A, Elia G. Experimental observations and theoretical interpretation of the mechanical behaviour of a grouted pyroclastic silty sand. In: VI European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering. 2006, Graz, Austria: Taylor & Francis.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A, Chan AHC. Fully coupled dynamic analysis of an earth dam using a complex constitutive assumption. In: 11th International Conference of IACMAG. 2005, Turin, Italy.
  • Amorosi A, Boldini D, Elia G, Germano V. A generalized Backward Euler scheme for the integration of a mixed isotropic-kinematic hardening model for clays. In: COMPLAS 2005: VIII International Conference on Computational Plasticity. 2005, Barcelona, Spain: CIMNE.
  • Elia G, Amorosi A, Chan AHC. Nonlinear ground response: effective stress analyses and parametric studies. In: Japan-Europe Seismic Risk Workshop. 2004, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

• Review

  • Elia G, Rouainia M. Advanced dynamic nonlinear schemes for geotechnical earthquake engineering applications: a review of critical aspects. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 2022, 40, 3379-3392.