Nino SPINELLA

Current Position

• Associate Professor in the scientific field CEAR07/A – Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Italy.
• Lecturer in Structural Engineering in the MSc programme in Civil Engineering for Water and Transport and in the MSc programme in Environmental and Land Engineering.
• Lecturer in Performance and Safety Control of Structural Materials and Members in the MSc programme in Construction Management and Safety.

Previous Positions

• Fixed-term Researcher (Type B) in the scientific field ICAR/09 – Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Italy.
• Research Fellow in the scientific field ICAR/09 – Structural Engineering, Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
• Postdoctoral Researcher in the scientific field ICAR/09 – Structural Engineering, Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
• Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada. Research activities focused on the shear behaviour of steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) structural members and on the development of procedures for modelling the tensile response of the material, in collaboration with Prof. Frank J. Vecchio (www.vectoranalysisgroup.com).

Academic Qualifications and Titles

•  National Academic Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) for appointment as Full Professor in the scientific field CEAR07/A – Structural Engineering.
•  National Academic Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale) for appointment as Associate Professor in the scientific field ICAR/09 – Structural Engineering.
•  Subject Expert (Cultore della materia) in Structural Engineering, Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
•  Subject Expert (Cultore della materia) in Structural Design and Bridge Engineering, Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
•  PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Messina, Italy. PhD thesis: Models for the Shear and Flexural Response of Steel Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Beams.
•  MSc in Civil Engineering – Structural Engineering, University of Messina, Italy. MSc thesis: A Model for Assessing the Behaviour of FRP-Strengthened Columns.

Teaching Activities

• Adjunct Lecturer
  •  Structural Rehabilitation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
  •  Prefabricated Structures, Faculty of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
  •  Structural Engineering II, Department of Civil, Environmental and Applied Mathematics Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
  •  Seismic Design, Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.
  •  Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna "Kore", Italy.
•  Lecturer for the module "Tools and Strategies for Existing RC Buildings in Seismic Areas", Summer School SSS – Seismic Structural Safety, University of Messina, Italy.
•  Teaching Tutor, Second-level University Master's Degree in Earthquake Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Messina, Italy.

Main Professional Experience

•  Laboratory Technician, Surveying Laboratory, Technical Institute for Commerce and Surveying “E. Fermi”, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina), Italy.
•  Technical Surveyor, Technical-Scientific Function and Damage Assessment Unit of the COC (Centro Operativo Comunale) of Tornimparte (L’Aquila), Mixed Operations Centre 3 of the Italian Civil Protection, within the framework of the Abruzzo Earthquake Emergency.
•  Executive Design of the project “Renovation, upgrading and rationalisation works of the building used as an Ethno-Anthropological Museum – Functional Lot I”, Piraino (Messina), Italy.
•  Senior Technical Officer, Municipality of Naso (Messina), Italy.
•  In.CAM.M.I.N.O. Project – “Innovation of the CAM System through the Use of New Process Options” (ERDF Operational Programme 2007–2013 – Sicily, Measure 4.1.1.2). Execution of in-situ and laboratory tests on masonry and reinforced concrete structures strengthened using the CAM system, in collaboration with EdilCAM Sistemi (Rome), CHIMETEC S.a.s. (Ragusa) and ABI S.r.l. (Ragusa).
• Technical-scientific collaboration within the agreement between the Autonomous Institute for Public Housing of the Province of Messina (IACP) and the DICIEAMA Department of the University of Messina, concerning the seismic hazard assessment of building typologies used by IACP in the municipality of Patti (Messina).
• Specialist structural consultancy for the design of a seismic-resistant connection for composite lattice girders.
• Specialist structural consultancy for the seismic upgrading of reinforced concrete and masonry buildings at the “L. Settino” Military Barracks, Cosenza, Italy.
• Specialist structural consultancy for structural vulnerability assessment, structural design and construction supervision as part of the “Seismic Improvement Project for Block 124 – South Side, Messina”.
• Construction supervision, measurement, accounting and assistance with final acceptance testing for the “Seismic upgrading works of the G. Leopardi School, Via Stella Maris – Minissale”, Messina, Italy.
• Assessment of the condition of the roof structures of the “Grande Cavana” building, Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (CNR-IRBIM), Messina, Italy.
• Specialist consultancy in various court-appointed expert investigations (CTU) for the Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Patti (Messina), Italy.
• Specialist structural consultancy for the design of a multi-level circular-plan steel structure to be constructed inside a disused masonry tank and converted into a winery open to the public, Zafferana Etnea (Catania), Italy.
• Specialist structural consultancy for the assessment of design and construction defects in a glued laminated timber roof structure of a commercial building with a clear span of approximately 25 m.
• Specialist structural consultancy for the assessment and verification of the safety and serviceability conditions of cantilevered reinforced concrete structures forming part of the dry dock located in the Falcata area of the Port of Messina, Italy.
• Expert Member, Technical and Administrative Committee of the Interregional Public Works Superintendency for Sicily and Calabria, Italy.
• Specialist technical and scientific support for in-depth studies aimed at the risk assessment of bridges and viaducts operated under concession by the Sicilian Motorways Consortium (Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane).
• Founding Member and Head of the Structural Engineering Division of the spin-off company “Servizi Avanzati di Geomatica e Ingegneria Strutturale per grandi opere civili – SAGIS S.r.l.”:
  • Structural consultancy for railway and highway bridges for various public authorities and companies, including RFI and the Sicilian Motorways Consortium (Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane).