Team members DUTh

CIVIL ENGINEER (PhD), Strengthening and Repair of Concrete Structures With Composites, Civil Engineering Department, DUTh, 

https://utopia.duth.gr/trousak/

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6384-1451

Martha Karabini is a PhD student in Structural Engineering with specialized expertise in the retrofitting of reinforced concrete (RC) structures using composite materials. Her research focuses particularly on enhancing the performance and resilience of RC beam-column joint members through innovative strengthening techniques. She employs advanced composite elements and modern methodologies to improve the structural integrity, durability, and seismic behavior of existing concrete structures. Her work aims to develop practical and effective solutions for the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure, contributing to safer and more sustainable built environments.

Vachan Vanian (Integrated Master level 7) Civil Engineering, PhD Candidate, at Democritus University of Thrace focusing on simultaneous seismic and energy retrofitting of reinforced concrete structures, with expertise in dynamic and thermal nonlinear analysis using advanced 3D finite element models (Ansys Explicit Dynamic, SeismoStruct, OpenSees). He is coauthor in six papers in peer-reviewed journals and four international/national conferences. He participated in international research projects like INMASPOL where he acquired data for developing reliable numerical simulations.

CIVIL ENGINEER / FRP
RETROFIT / FEM

Dr. Athanasia Thomoglou is a Post-Doctoral Researcher of Civil Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace. Her research focuses on seismic retrofitting and upgrading the load-bearing capacity of masonry structures using innovative reinforcement systems. Additionally, she integrates nanotechnology in piezoresistive cementitious sensors for health monitoring and structural repair. Dr. Thomoglou leverages her expertise in the physical, electro-mechanical and mechanical behavior of advanced materials to design, develop, monitor, characterize, simulate and predict the mechanical response of structural members.
 
 

AUTOMATION
ENGINEER

DR.-ING CIVIL
ENGINEER

Dr. Maristella Voutetaki is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace. Her research expertise lies in the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for concrete structures, with a particular focus on the use of piezoelectric materials (PZTs) as sensors and actuators. She specializes in the assessment, monitoring, and retrofit of concrete structures to enhance their structural integrity, service life, and seismic resilience. Her research includes advanced methodologies for strengthening and repairing reinforced concrete members, incorporating innovative materials and techniques.

https://arch.duth.gr/author/mvouteta/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Me-Voutetaki

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=16040896800

Dr. Violetta Kytinou is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Civil Engineering of DUTh. Her research interests include, use of alternative reinforcement methods for reinforced concrete (RC) structures; repair and strengthening of RC structures with conventional (concrete jacketing) and innovative methods (use of fiber-reinforced polymers, thin coated high strength concrete jackets etc.); investigation of RC elements and structures under static and seismic loads; determination of damage indices; structural assessment; numerical and finite element analyses.
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57210221361

Dr. Maria C. Naoum is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Civil Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). She specializes in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and focuses on both experimental and analytical research that utilizes smart sensor technologies to assess and enhance the integrity of civil infrastructure. Her work has led to significant advancements in damage detection methodologies, which have been successfully applied to existing infrastructures and widely recognized in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. Additionally,  Dr. Naoum possesses extensive expertise in the design, analysis, and assessment of reinforced concrete structures. By integrating innovative monitoring systems with cutting-edge engineering practices, her research enhances the resilience, durability, and safety of civil infrastructure.

Dr. Nikos Papadopoulos is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Civil Engineering at Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). He specializes in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), combining experimental methods to utilize smart sensor technologies for assessing, monitoring, and improving the integrity of civil infrastructure. His research has significantly advanced damage detection methodologies, which have been successfully applied to existing infrastructures and recognized in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. In addition to his expertise in SHM, Dr. Papadopoulos has extensive experience in retrofitting reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements. By employing smart sensors, he has systematically monitored structural degradation, offering valuable insights into the behavior of retrofitted structures. His contributions are essential in enhancing the resilience and longevity of critical infrastructure systems.

Dr. George M. Sapidis is a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures of Democritus University of Thrace, where he earned his Ph.D. in the inspection and refurbishment of reinforced concrete structural elements. He possesses multidisciplinary research interests and has published works pertaining to Structural Health Monitoring, the retrofitting of reinforced concrete structures, and technologies concerning construction materials in both structural and geotechnical applications. In addition, he has extensive knowledge regarding the experimental investigation of the physical and mechanical properties of full-scale or scaled specimens subjected to quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. Furthermore, he has developed novel methodologies for damage detection and structural integrity assessment of structural members using piezoelectric sensors, such as PZT, and machine learning techniques. Finally, George Sapidis and his colleagues utilized an innovative Structural Health Monitoring system, currently under eminent patent approval, in a real-life bridge application.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Georgios-Sapidis

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56716310200

Experimental
Investigation, Retrofit
and strengthening of
RC members,
Structural Health
Monitoring

Dr. Adamantis Zapris is a Post-Doctoral Researcher of the Department of Civil Engineering of DUTh. His research interests include:  experimental and analytical research in the field of rehabilitation and strengthening of damaged and inadequately designed reinforced concrete (RC) elements and structures; Experimental Investigation of large-scale RC specimens strengthened against shear, flexure and torsion and non-destructive testing.
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57215043222

Mr. Ioannis Xynopoulos is a PhD candidate at the Department of Civil Engineering of DUTh. His doctoral research is entitled “Innovative methods of interventions in structural structures against ordinary and seismic actions” and the subject of research is related to the application of new, innovative – modern methods of repair and strengthening of reinforced concrete and load-bearing masonry structures. The research includes experimental and numerical investigation accompanied by non-destructive methods of damage assessment. 
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=59420316100

Computer Aided Design, Numerical modeling

Experiments in
retrofits construction
and design

Makrini Macha is a civil engineer specializing in green structural engineering. She began her studies at Democritus University of Thrace in the academic year 2017-2018 and earned her Diploma in Civil Engineering in October 2022. Her graduate research focused on the structural assessment of reinforced concrete structures and strengthening with Basalt Fiber Ropes (BFR) under the supervision of Prof. Theodoros Rousakis.

In December 2022, she joined the Institute of Structural Engineering at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, as a Research Assistant, where she also began her PhD supervised by Prof. Konrad Bergmeister. Her research emphasizes on developing ecologically optimized structural elements using Recycled Aggregate Concrete reinforced with Hybrid Fibers. Her expertise includes fiber composites, sustainable infrastructure design and advanced numerical simulations.

×