Leonardi, Alessandro, Dr

Dr Alessandro Leonardi

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Lecturer in Geomechanics

a.leonardi@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5782

Room E103b, Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)

Full contact details

Dr Alessandro Leonardi
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room E103b
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
91ֱ��
S1 3JD

Profile

My research blends innovative technologies and nature-based solutions to predict and prevent disasters, helping communities stay safe and resilient in a changing climate.

Dr Alessandro Leonardi

Dr Alessandro Leonardi (he/him) is a lecturer in Geomechanics, with expertise in numerical modelling, digital technologies, and geohazards. Holding a PhD from ETH Zurich, supported by a Marie Curie fellowship, Dr Leonardi’s early work advanced debris flow modelling by bridging geotechnical and hydraulic engineering.

Following his PhD, he spent four years as a postdoctoral fellow at Politecnico di Torino, where he led software development for hazard assessment in mountainous regions. His expertise extends to the development of numerical modelling software and physical models, including landslide flumes and geotechnical centrifuges. He leads the development of HYBIRD, a multiphase software for the simulation of particle-fluid systems.

Dr Leonardi’s research focuses on advancing smart and nature-based solutions for slope stability and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on society. He also investigates submarine geohazards to reduce uncertainties in offshore energy infrastructure design, contributing to the resilience of the renewable energy sector.

His work is driven by the goal of safeguarding communities from the increasing threat of natural hazards, such as landslides, triggered by climate change, and enhancing the resilience of infrastructure both onshore and offshore.

Research interests

Numerical Modelling

• Multiphase modelling for geotechnical applications

• Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM)

• Coupling continuum and discrete approaches for hazard simulation

• Back-analysis of real-world geohazard events

Geohazards

• Landslides, debris flows, and rockfall dynamics

• Nature-based solutions for slope stability

• Submarine geohazards and their impact on offshore infrastructure

• Climate change and its influence on geohazard frequency

Development of Smart Technologies

• Physical modelling using landslide flumes and geotechnical centrifuge

• Design of smart, resilient mitigation structures

• Use of advanced sensors and monitoring systems for hazard detection

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Webb W, Turnbull B & Leonardi A (2024) . Granular Matter, 26(2).
La Porta G, Leonardi A, Pirulli M, Cafaro F & Castelli F (2024) . Acta Geotechnica, 19(4), 1-17.
Ng CWW, Leonardi A, Majeed U, Pirulli M & Choi CE (2023) . Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 149(1).
Pasqua A, Leonardi A & Pirulli M (2022) . Computers and Geotechnics, 149.
Leonardi A, Pirulli M, Barbero M, Barpi F, Borri-Brunetto M, Pallara O, Scavia C & Segor V (2021) . Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 27(2), 195-212.
Leonardi A, Cabrera MA & Pirulli M (2021) . Granular Matter, 23(2).
Cabrera MA, Leonardi A & Peng C (2020) . ��é�ǳٱ𳦳�Ծ��ܱ�, 70(10), 894-905.
Ceccato F, Leonardi A, Girardi V, Simonini P & Pirulli M (2020) . Soils and Foundations, 60(3), 683-696.
Marchelli M, Leonardi A, Pirulli M & Scavia C (2020) . ��é�ǳٱ𳦳�Ծ��ܱ�, 70(3), 226-237.
Leonardi A & Pirulli M (2020) . Computers and Geotechnics, 118.
Leonardi A, Goodwin GR & Pirulli M (2019) . Acta Geotechnica, 14(6), 1949-1963.
Leonardi A, Pokrajac D, Roman F, Zanello F & Armenio V (2018) . Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 851, 558-572.
Kyrousi F, Leonardi A, Roman F, Armenio V, Zanello F, Zordan J, Juez C & Falcomer L (2018) . Advances in Water Resources, 114, 102-118.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M, Vetter R & Herrmann HJ (2016) . Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 31(5), 323-333.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M & Herrmann HJ (2015) , 131-140.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M & Herrmann HJ (2014) . Computational Particle Mechanics, 1(1), 3-13.
Leonardi A, Cabrera M, Wittel FK, Kaitna R, Mendoza M, Wu W & Herrmann HJ () . Physical Review E, 92(5).

Conference proceedings papers

Chen H & Leonardi A (2023) The application of intermittent freezing operation for improving the cost-effectiveness of artificial ground freezing projects. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Ground Freezing (pp 293-302). London, UK, 10 October 2023 - 10 October 2023.

All publications

Journal articles

Webb W, Turnbull B & Leonardi A (2024) . Granular Matter, 26(2).
La Porta G, Leonardi A, Pirulli M, Cafaro F & Castelli F (2024) . Acta Geotechnica, 19(4), 1-17.
Ng CWW, Leonardi A, Majeed U, Pirulli M & Choi CE (2023) . Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 149(1).
Pasqua A, Leonardi A & Pirulli M (2022) . Computers and Geotechnics, 149.
Leonardi A, Pirulli M, Barbero M, Barpi F, Borri-Brunetto M, Pallara O, Scavia C & Segor V (2021) . Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 27(2), 195-212.
Leonardi A, Cabrera MA & Pirulli M (2021) . Granular Matter, 23(2).
Cabrera MA, Leonardi A & Peng C (2020) . ��é�ǳٱ𳦳�Ծ��ܱ�, 70(10), 894-905.
Ceccato F, Leonardi A, Girardi V, Simonini P & Pirulli M (2020) . Soils and Foundations, 60(3), 683-696.
Marchelli M, Leonardi A, Pirulli M & Scavia C (2020) . ��é�ǳٱ𳦳�Ծ��ܱ�, 70(3), 226-237.
Leonardi A & Pirulli M (2020) . Computers and Geotechnics, 118.
Leonardi A, Goodwin GR & Pirulli M (2019) . Acta Geotechnica, 14(6), 1949-1963.
Leonardi A, Pokrajac D, Roman F, Zanello F & Armenio V (2018) . Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 851, 558-572.
Kyrousi F, Leonardi A, Roman F, Armenio V, Zanello F, Zordan J, Juez C & Falcomer L (2018) . Advances in Water Resources, 114, 102-118.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M, Vetter R & Herrmann HJ (2016) . Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 31(5), 323-333.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M & Herrmann HJ (2015) , 131-140.
Leonardi A, Wittel FK, Mendoza M & Herrmann HJ (2014) . Computational Particle Mechanics, 1(1), 3-13.
Leonardi A, Cabrera M, Wittel FK, Kaitna R, Mendoza M, Wu W & Herrmann HJ () . Physical Review E, 92(5).

Conference proceedings papers

Chen H & Leonardi A (2023) The application of intermittent freezing operation for improving the cost-effectiveness of artificial ground freezing projects. Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Ground Freezing (pp 293-302). London, UK, 10 October 2023 - 10 October 2023.