Infrastructure and Environment

https://dgarciacava.github.io/

• PgDip in Academic Practice, University of Strathclyde (UK), 2019
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering , University of Strathclyde (UK), 2016
• MSc in Advanced Structural Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University (UK), 2012
• BEng in Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (Spain), 2006

• Chartered Engineer, MIMechE
• IMechE - Member of the Edinburgh and South & East Scotland Committee
• Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, FHEA

• Structural Mechanics and Dynamics 3 - Laboratory (MECE09036)
• Engineering Vibrations and Dynamics 5 (MECE11020)
• Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge (PGEE11195)
• Mechanical Engineering MEng Individual Project 5 (MECE11006)
• BEng Mechanical Engineering Project 4 (MECE10008)

• Structural dynamics
• Engineering vibrations
• Structural health monitoring

Dr James A Quinn is a Research Associate in Composite Design and Testing at The University of Edinburgh and a member of the MATTERS Group, where his role focuses on connecting innovative research to practical applications.

He is experienced in many aspects of composite testing, with current research interests in multifunctional composite materials and structures. Building on his background in asset maintenance of thick marine composite structures, he is also involved in:

• electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance in composite structures
• multifunctional composite materials and structures
• non-destructive testing (particularly of thick fibre-reinforced polymer structures)
• mechanics of thick or large composites including sandwich structures
• fracture mechanics of polymer composites
• repair of polymers and polymer-composites.

I am an academic and university teacher at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh. My expertise lies in structural engineering, sustainability, and advanced technologies with a strong focus on resilience and innovation in civil infrastructure. Throughout my academic career, I have contributed significantly to both teaching and research, leading projects that address contemporary engineering challenges using experimental and computational methodologies. My current research initiatives involve the integration of AI-driven methods for structural health monitoring, sustainable construction materials, and innovative structural solutions aimed at enhancing infrastructure sustainability and resilience.

PgCAP, Academic Practice, University of Edinburgh, UK (2025)

Associate Professorship (Docentlik) by the Interuniversity Council of Turkey (ÜAK) 2013

Associate Professorship by Ministry of Education, Albania (2013)

Ph.D. in Structural Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2008)

M.Sc. in Structural Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2002)

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of Gaziantep, Turkey (1998)

Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

Member of the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Architects of Turkey, Chamber of Civil Engineers.

Conceptual Design and Sustainability for Civil Engineers (CDSCE3)

Engineering Principles 1

Behaviour and Design of Structures 2

Prior Academic Teaching Roles

Reinforced Concrete Fundamentals (5) Structural Analysis (5) Structural Mechanics (5) Reinforced Concrete Structures (5) Bridge Engineering (3) Structural Design II (3) Solid Mechanics (4)

Graduate Courses:

Behavior of RC Members and Structures (4)Bridge Assessment (3) Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (4) Advanced Structural Design (4)

_{*Number in brackets indicates the number of times the course has been taught.}

My research involves experimental and numerical investigations of reinforced concrete structures, earthquake-resistant buildings, and historical masonry structures. I have extensive expertise in the performance assessment of composite precast slab structures, unreinforced masonry buildings, and historical structures under static and dynamic loads. Additionally, I focus on developing innovative composite precast lightweight slabs, advanced assessment and repair techniques for reinforced concrete (RC) buildings and bridges, and masonry structures. My current projects include strengthening techniques for unreinforced masonry structures and studying the effects of anchorage on the axial strength of fiber-reinforced polymer confined rectangular columns. Additionally, my recent research involves bridge inspection using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and knowledge graphs for structural health monitoring, as well as the development of sustainable low-carbon bricks utilizing water-based polymeric binders and recycled aggregates.

• Structural performance assessment and AI-driven structural health monitoring
• Earthquake-resistant design
• Historical masonry structures
• Sustainable and innovative construction materials.

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https://mazdias.wordpress.com

Dr Dias obtained his bachelor’s in physics at the State University of São Paulo, Brazil. Four years later, he commenced a MSc in theoretical physics from his alma mater. In 2012, he obtained his PhD degree from the University of Massachusetts, USA, where he researched on the mechanics of origami structures and growth mechanisms. Dr Dias has worked as a researcher on a broad range of topics in structural engineering and applied mathematics at Brown University School of Engineering (USA), Aalto University (Finland), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics at KTH (Sweden). Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Dr Dias was an Associate Professor of mechanical engineering at Aarhus University in Denmark, where he lead his research group 'Mechanical Metamaterials and Soft Matter’.

• Ph.D. in Physics (2012), University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
• M.Sc. in Physics (2007), Theoretical Physics Institute – IFT, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
• B.Sc. in Physics (2004), State University of São Paulo – UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

• Theoretical mechancis
• Soft condensed matter physics
• Applied mathematics
• Differential geometry
• Dimensionally reduced models and structures (beams, rods, plates, and shells)
• Stability theory
• Mechanical metamaterials (Auxetic structures, origami, kirigami, etc)
• Biomechanics
• Fluid-structure interactions