Fabio Matta

Assistant Professor

Education

• PhD, Civil Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA, 2007.
• BS/MS (5-year program), Civil Engineering, University of Padova, Italy, 2003.

Research Interests

• Sustainable and appropriate materials and structures for new construction and rehabilitation (emphasis on dwellings in rural and developing areas).
• Advanced material systems for internal reinforcement of cementitious composites.
• Crashworthy design of structures.
• Load testing, monitoring and assessment of constructed facilities.
• Experimental techniques for mechanical and thermal measurements.

Experience

• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (2/2010–present).
• Associate Director, National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for “Integration of Composites into Infrastructure,” University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (8/2009–1/2010).
• Associate Director, National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for “Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites,” University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (8/2007–7/2009).
• Research Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (8/2007–1/2010).

Sponsored Research

• “Collaborative Research: Resilient and Sustainable Engineered Fiber-Reinforced Earthen Masonry for High Wind Regions,” NSF. Role: PI, Lead Institution. PI at University of Nebraska-Lincoln: E. Erdogmus. PI at University of Florida: E. Obonyo. 09/01/2011–08/31/2014.
• “Seismic Retrofit and Repair of Masonry Dwellings in Developing and Rural Areas,” Magellan Scholar Program (for support of undergraduate research assistant: S. Jones), USC Research Foundation. Role: PI. 05/01/2011–08/15/2012.
• “Graphene Nanoreinforcement for Concrete: Physical Compatibility and Fundamental Properties,” Promising Investigator Research Award (PIRA), USC Research Foundation. Role: PI. Co-PI’s: N. Saleh and P. Ziehl. 04/15/2011–07/15/2012.
• “New Structural Materials for Transmission Lines,” Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI). Role: PI. Co-PI’s: C. Pierce (University of South Carolina) and P. Rizzo (University of Pittsburgh). 10/01/2010–06/30/2011.
• “EAGER: Rapid and Affordable Repair of Substandard Confined Masonry,” NSF. Role: PI. Co-PI: M. Jelacic (University of Colorado Denver). 09/01/2010–08/31/2011.
• “Self Powered Wireless Sensor Network for Structural Bridge Health Prognosis,” NIST. Role: Co-PI. PI USC subaward: P. Ziehl. PI Virginia Tech subaward: D. Inman. PI University of Miami subaward: A. Nanni. Project PI: V. Godinez (Mistras Group). 02/01/2009–01/31/2014.

Advisees

• Mabel Cristina Cuéllar Azcárate (9/2011–present). Topic: Hazard-resilient engineered earthen construction. PhD expected: 2014.
• Dr. Enrico Garbin (1/2011–present). Topic: Sustainable and appropriate masonry structures for dwellings in rural and developing areas.
• Rahim Ghorbani (1/2011–present). Topic: Sustainable and low-cost repair and retrofit of substandard confined masonry. PhD expected: 2013.
• William Vélez Pabón (8/2010–present). Topic: Prognosis of prestressed reinforcement corrosion in concrete bridges based on acoustic emissions. PhD expected: 2013.
• Nima Zohhadi (8/2010–present). Topic: Graphitic nanoreinforcement for damage-tolerant cementitious matrix composites. PhD expected: 2014.

Professional Service

• Associate Editor, ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering *.
• Associate Member, ACI Committee 440 (Fiber Reinforced Polymer Reinforcement).
• Associate Member, ACI Committee 446 (Fracture Mechanics of Concrete), Joint ACI-ASCE.
• Council Member, International Institute for FRP in Construction.

Professional Membership

• American Concrete Institute (ACI), 2005–present.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2006–present.
• Engineers Without Borders (EWB-USA), 2006–present.
• International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), 2007–present.
• Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM), 2008–present.

Awards and Honors

• 2011 Promising Investigator Research Award (PIRA), University of South Carolina.
• 2010 Outstanding Reviewer, ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering.
• NSF delegate, International Workshop “The Next Building Blocks – Designing the Future of Earthen Block Construction,” November 5-7, 2010, Boulder, CO.
• NSF delegate, 16th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials (MCM-2010), May 24-28, 2010, Riga, Latvia.
• “Who’s Who in America,” 64th edition, 2009.
• Best Technical Paper Award, track “Infrastructure and Construction,” Composites & Polycon 2009, American Composites Manufacturers Association (co-recipient).
• NSF delegate, International Workshop on Use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers for Sustainable Structures, May 22, 2008, Cairo, Egypt.
• Author Travel Award, Composites & Polycon 2007, American Composites Manufacturers Association.
• Research Scholarship, National University Transportation Center on Advanced Materials and Non-Destructive Testing Technologies, 2006-2007.
• 2006 Construction Innovation Forum NOVA Award for Outstanding Innovation in Construction (finalist).
• 2006 ASCE/CERF C.J. Pankow Award for Innovation (runner-up).
• Education Abroad Program (EAP) Scholarship, University of Padova and University of California, 2002-2003.

Student Advisees' Awards and Honors

• Magellan Mini-Grant, University of South Carolina, 9/2011. Awardee: English M. Player (undergraduate research assistant). Project: Low-Cost Nanoreinforced Cementitious Composites for Sustainable Construction.
• Magellan Mini-Grant, University of South Carolina, 9/2011. Awardee: Bradford N. DiFranco (undergraduate research assistant). Project: Recycled Fiber Reinforcement for Damage-Tolerant Earth Blocks.
• University Libraries Award for Undergraduate Research, Honorable Mention, University of South Carolina, 5/2011. Awardee: Nicholas R. Williamson (undergraduate research assistant). Project: Traditional and Novel Materials for Overhead Transmission Line Structures.
• Magellan Scholarship, University of South Carolina, 5/2011. Awardee: Stephen M. Jones (undergraduate research assistant). Project: Seismic Retrofit and Repair of Masonry Dwellings in Developing and Rural Areas.
• STEPs to STEM Internship, University of South Carolina, 4/2011. Awardee: Stephen M. Jones (undergraduate research assistant).
• STEPs to STEM Internship, University of South Carolina, 4/2011. Awardee: Jeffrey K. Shealey (undergraduate research assistant).
• Bert Storey Fellowship, University of South Carolina, 12/2010. Awardee: Nima Zohhadi (graduate research assistant).

Selected Publications

• De Caso y Basalo, F.J., F. Matta, and A. Nanni (2011), “Fiber Reinforced Cement-Based Composite System for Concrete Confinement,” in press, Construction and Building Materials (special issue).
• Ferraro, R.M., A. Nanni, R.K. Vempati, and F. Matta (2010), “Carbon Neutral Off-White Rice Husk Ash as a Partial White Cement Replacement,” ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 22(10), 1078-1083.
• De Luca, A., F. Matta, and A. Nanni (2010), “Behavior of Full-Scale GFRP Reinforced Concrete Columns under Axial Load,” ACI Structural Journal, 107(5), 589-596.
• Napoli, A., F. Matta, E. Martinelli, A. Nanni, and R. Realfonzo (2010), “Modeling and Verification of Response of RC Slabs Strengthened in Flexure with Mechanically Fastened FRP Laminates,” Magazine of Concrete Research, 62(8), 593-605 (invited paper).
• Matta, F., A. Nanni, A. Abdelrazaq, D. Gremel, and R. Koch (2009), “Externally Post-Tensioned Carbon FRP Bar System for Deflection Control,” Construction and Building Materials, 23(4), 1628-1639 (special issue).
• Matta, F., and A. Nanni (2009), “Connection of Concrete Railing Post and Bridge Deck with Internal FRP Reinforcement,” ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, 14(1), 66-76.
• Matta, F., F. Bastianini, N. Galati, P. Casadei, and A. Nanni (2008), “Distributed Strain Measurement in Steel Bridge with Fiber Optic Sensors: Validation through Diagnostic Load Test,” ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 22(4), 264-273 (special issue).
• Matta, F., P. Rizzo, V.M. Karbhari, and F. Lanza di Scalea (2006), “Acoustic Emission Damage Assessment of Steel/CFRP Bonds for Rehabilitation,” ASCE Journal of Composites for Construction, 10(3), 265-274.
• Matta, F., V.M. Karbhari, and R. Vitaliani (2005), “Tensile Response of Steel/CFRP Adhesive Bonds for the Rehabilitation of Civil Structures,” Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 20(5), 589-608.

Selected Presentations

• “Graphene Nanoreinforcement for Damage-Tolerant Cement-Based Composites,” 1st Annual World Congress of Nano-S&T, October 25, 2011, Dalian, China (invited presentation).
• “From “Aiding” to “Enabling”: Sustainable Masonry Retrofit and Repair for the Other 90%,” NSF International Workshop “The Next Building Blocks – Designing the Future of Earthen Block Construction,” November 6, 2010, Boulder, CO (invited presentation).
• “AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Guide Specifications for Glass FRP RC Bridge Decks and Traffic Railings – State of the Art and Critical Gaps,” 27th International Bridge Conference, June 7, 2010, Pittsburgh, PA (invited presentation).
• “Innovative Fiber Reinforced Composite Systems for Concrete Confinement,” 16th International Conference on Mechanics of Composite Materials, May 27, 2010, Riga, Latvia (invited presentation).
• “Non-Destructive Evaluation and Acoustic Emission for Damage Assessment of Concrete Bridge in Marine Environment,” Recent Advances in Maintenance and Repair of Concrete Bridges (ACI Committee 345), American Concrete Institute Spring 2010 Convention, March 22, 2010, Chicago, IL.
• “Scaling of Strength of FRP Reinforced Concrete Beams without Shear Reinforcement,” 4th International Conference on FRP Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE 2008), July 22, 2008, Zurich, Switzerland.
• “Industry/University Cooperative Research on Advanced Composite Reinforcement for Concrete: Translating Innovation into Sustainable Engineering Practice,” NSF International Workshop on the Use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers for Sustainable Structures, May 22, 2008, Cairo, Egypt (invited presentation).