Civil structures and infrastructures are continuously exposed to the multi-hazard threat of an ever-changing environment, and one of the most impactful challenges of structural mechanics and engineering is to guarantee their optimal performance, whether they are new or existing. The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together the most recent research trends and advances in structural dynamics and analysis to support the needs of professionals and researchers engaged in the development and application of new modelling, design and assessment strategies capable of effectively describing the structural behaviour of civil structures and infrastructures under a variety of external actions such as earthquakes, wind, vibrations, and extreme loads leading to progressive collapse. Within this framework, the open threads that are embraced in the issue are analytical, experimental, and numerical methods for evaluating the linear and non-linear structural response; implications of modelling assumptions in the design and assessment processes of new and existing structures; advanced approaches for dynamic analysis, also in view of a probabilistic framework; appraisal of different methods of analysis; problems of dynamic interaction. Another key aspect is related to modelling and characterization of structural materials, from traditional ones, such as reinforced concrete, steel and masonry, to the more innovative and advanced ones, such as laminated glass or wood and fiber reinforced composites. In this perspective, studies about micro and macro modelling of structural materials – both numerical and aimed at experimental testing – are also especially encouraged.
Contributions in the following topics are welcome (they need not be limited to this list): Structural dynamic approaches, numerical applications, case studies; Linear and nonlinear structural analyses; Modelling and characterization of structural materials; Analysis of Engineering Materials under Dynamic Loads; Design of new civil structures and infrastructures; Structural Health Monitoring; Vibration Analysis and Dynamic characterization; Assessment and retrofit of existing civil structures and infrastructures; Structural performance under hazardous events; Soil-Structure Interaction; Applications in Risk and Mitigation analysis; Experimental testing and modelling.
Keywords: Structural dynamics; Structural mechanics; Linear and nonlinear methods of analysis; Design of new structures; Assessment of existing structures; Characterization and modelling of engineering materials; Risk and mitigation analysis.