ASDEA - Advanced Structural Design And Analysis

At ASDEA, we believe that innovation emerges where research, passion, and engineering converge. That’s why we enthusiastically support projects that tackle complex and stimulating challenges. ✨

Today, we’re proud to share the work of , MSc in Engineering, who conducted an in-depth study on soil-structure interaction for the Izmit Bay Bridge (Turkey) as part of her Master’s thesis at the Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio". 🎓

👉 This project—supervised by Prof. Guido Camata (Professor at the Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio" ASDEA partner), Dr. Massimo Petracca (co-advisor and ASDEA partner), and Dr. Davide Noè Gorini (co-advisor, University of Trento)—led to significant findings in the analysis of soil-structure interaction for large suspension bridges.

Using , our advanced structural analysis software, Francesca explored how geotechnical interaction critically influences the bridge’s static and dynamic response.

🔎 A key focus of the study was the innovative foundation system based on self-sinking caissons. Through nonlinear modeling—including contact constraints between the foundation and soil, and the application of a three-component earthquake—the simulation captured frictional effects between interacting components. The results reveal that a carefully calibrated level of friction can cause significant changes in the structural response, with increased relative displacements and a corresponding reduction in internal forces—particularly shear force, which may decrease by up to 60%.

➡️ This approach enables a detailed and realistic dynamic assessment, accounting for the mutual influence between soil and structure.

Today, Francesca is part of our team, bringing with her the same passion and curiosity that guided her throughout this project. 🚀

🎥 Watch the video of the model developed in STKO 👇