Doctoral School

Reading date: 09/03/2026

• DE SANTIAGO GARCIA, JAVIER NICOLAS: La imagen poética en los procesos de producción, proyectuales y habitar de la vivienda de autoproducción en Lomas del Centinela.
  
  Author: DE SANTIAGO GARCIA, JAVIER NICOLAS
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN THEORY AND HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
  Department: Department of History and Theory of Architecture and Communication Techniques (THATC)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 09/02/2026
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: USANDIZAGA CALPARSORO, MIGUEL M. | SERRA PERMANYER, MARTA
  Thesis abstract: This thesis addresses the search for the poetic image in self-built housing in the Lomas del Centinela neighborhood, in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. This search focuses on some of the processes identified with self-built housing, particularly in the production processes, design processes, and the dwelling process.The concept of poetic image is constructed through the discourses of authors such as Gaston Bachelard, Carlos González y Lobo, Steven Holl, Manuel Martín Hernández, Juhanni Pallasmaa, and Alberto Pérez-Gómez. It can be defined as the element that results from having imagined something with a specific purpose in mind. It is referred to as an element because it can manifest as a thought, a written text, a goal, a conceptual drawing, a method to achieve an end, a way of experiencing a place, of appropriating it, and of recognizing oneself in that journey.This study examines women from Lomas del Centinela who have self-built their homes, approaching their history and the forms of production they engaged in during the years they, along with their families, pursued the dream of building their own homes.During this research, they were interviewed, seeking in their discourses elements that could be considered poetic images, with the aim of exploring their self-building processes through the lens of the poetic image. Through this search, not only is the importance of imagination emphasized, but also the fact that self-building processes are not spontaneous. Rather, in much of their conception, construction, and inhabitation, they respond—beyond the management of minimal resources—to a strong imaginative component. This entails a profound reflection on the potential of self-built housing in terms of creative achievement.
  

Reading date: 10/03/2026

• CUADROS ROJAS, EMERSON JULIO: Out-of-Plane Flexural Behaviour of Masonry Walls Reinforced with High-Strength Steel Cord Mesh
  
  Author: CUADROS ROJAS, EMERSON JULIO
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/02/2026
  Reading date: pending
  Reading time: pending
  Reading place: pending
  Thesis director: PELA, LUCA | ROCA FABREGAT, PEDRO
  Thesis abstract: Perforated brick masonry facades with exposed brickwork are a common feature in contemporary construction, yet they frequently demonstrate an out-of-plane response that renders them suscep-tible to wind and seismic action. Concurrently, innovative horizontal joint reinforcement systems utilising high-strength steel meshes are being adopted in increasing numbers in practice, although specific design provisions are still lacking. The present thesis investigates the mechanical behav-iour of perforated brick masonry walls reinforced with high-strength steel meshes. The investiga-tion focuses on out-of-plane bending response, and the thesis combines three different experi-mental programs in the laboratory, and numerical modelling.Initially, the experimental characterisation of the constituent masonry materials was conducted. Tests were carried out on perforated clay bricks and M5 mortar to provide their compressive and flexural strengths. Masonry prisms were subjected to compression tests and monitored using digi-tal image correlation (DIC) to determine the compressive strength, Young’s modulus and Pois-son's ratio. A methodology was proposed that utilised a co-barycentric effective area approach in order to account for the eccentricity induced by the asymmetric perforation pattern when evalu-ating compressive strength and stiffness.The shear behaviour of perforated brick masonry was the subject of a second experimental pro-gramme that involved triplet tests performed at three levels of pre-compression. The employment of DIC facilitated the observation of damage mechanisms and the estimation of Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters. The core of the research focuses on the execution of out-of-plane flexural tests of five unrein-forced masonry walls and six walls reinforced with high-strength steel mesh arranged with two different separations (0.6 m and 0.4 m, corresponding to geometric reinforcement ratios of 0.015% and 0.022%). The experimental programme was conducted in accordance with the four-point bending method specified in the standard EN 1052-2, and the damage process was moni-tored with three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D DIC). The reinforced walls demon-strated a substantial enhancement in strength and ductility in comparison to the unreinforced walls, higher overstrength ratios, and significantly greater ultimate displacements. The walls with a higher amount of bed-joint reinforcement exhibited a more distributed cracking with reduced crack widths, demonstrating crack control at low geometric reinforcement ratios compared to traditional reinforcement systems.An analytical model for the moment-curvature response and finite element micro-models were developed and calibrated based on the experimental results.
  

• ZAPATA FRANCO, ANA MARIA: Probabilistic Seismic Risk Assessment Integrating Soil Nonlinearity, Structural Response and Gender Perspectives
  
  Author: ZAPATA FRANCO, ANA MARIA
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 04/02/2026
  Reading date: 10/03/2026
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB.UPC, Campus NordBuilding C1. Classroom: 002C/Jordi Girona, 1-308034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: VARGAS ALZATE, YEUDY FELIPE | GONZALEZ DRIGO, JOSE RAMON
  Thesis abstract: In recent years, soil–structure interaction (SSI) has become a key element in the estimation of seismic risk, as the soil beneath a structure acts as a filter that can amplify or attenuate the seismic response depending on its dynamic properties. This may lead to resonance phenomena in structures whose natural periods are close to those of the soil, increasing seismic demand and the probability of damage. In this regard, the growing use of advanced numerical models that explicitly incorporate SSI has significantly improved the understanding of this complex and nonlinear phenomenon.Accurate characterization of the dynamic response of soil profiles is therefore essential for a realistic assessment of seismic risk. The scientific literature emphasizes the importance of considering SSI, particularly the nonlinear behavior of soils, in the analysis of the seismic performance of structures located in areas of moderate to high seismic hazard, as well as critical infrastructure. To model these interactions, different approaches have been developed, ranging from simplified 1D models to three-dimensional finite element models capable of representing complex geometries, spatial variability, and multidirectional coupling.This research aims to deepen the understanding of the dynamic behavior of structures under realistic seismic conditions, with particular emphasis on SSI. The study analyzes seismic wave propagation through four main stages: i) probabilistic characterization of seismic motion at the bedrock level, ii) nonlinear propagation of waves through heterogeneous soil profiles, iii) evaluation of structural response under site-specific ground motions, and iv) incorporation of social vulnerability, especially gender-related inequalities, into probabilistic seismic risk estimation. This multistage approach enables the integration of engineering and social dimensions in a more comprehensive risk assessment.The research is based on two main hypotheses. The first proposes that advanced intensity measures, based on velocity and energy metrics, provide better predictive capability for seismic demand than traditional acceleration-based measures. The second argues that probabilistic modeling of soil properties within SSI frameworks enables more robust damage predictions than deterministic approaches. Finally, the integration of social factors such as income, housing conditions, and population exposure seeks to contribute to the development of more equitable and effective risk mitigation strategies, aimed at safer and more resilient built environments.
  

Reading date: 13/03/2026

• CASTREJON COMAS, VICTOR: Electroresponsive hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel for wound healing with real-time monitoring of bacterial metabolism to prevent infection
  
  Author: CASTREJON COMAS, VICTOR
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN POLYMERS AND BIOPOLYMERS
  Department: Department of Chemical Engineering (EQ)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 11/02/2026
  Reading date: 13/03/2026
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ESCOLA D'ENGINYERIA DE BARCELONA ESTmeet.google.com/byq-scje-iatAv. Eduard Maristany, 16 Sala PolivalentPlantA 0 (A.0.3) https://eebe.upc.edu/es
  Thesis director: ALEMAN LLANSO, CARLOS ENRIQUE | PÉREZ MADRIGAL, MARIA DEL MAR
  Thesis abstract: Chronic skin wounds represent a major healthcare and socioeconomic challenge due to their high prevalence, prolonged healing times, and elevated risk of complications, particularly in conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers and vascular ulcers. In this context, the development of advanced wound dressings capable of promoting tissue regeneration while simultaneously monitoring the wound status constitutes a critical clinical need. Hyaluronic acid (HA), as a natural component of the skin extracellular matrix, stands out as an ideal biomimetic platform for the design of hydrogels intended for cutaneous wound healing, owing to its excellent biocompatibility, high water-retention capacity, and regulatory role in the wound-healing process.In this thesis, HA-based hydrogels crosslinked via click chemistry are developed using a three-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a crosslinking agent, enabling the formation of well-defined three-dimensional networks under mild and biocompatible conditions. These hydrogels (clickHA) are designed to maintain a favorable moist environment, absorb wound exudate, and promote autolytic debridement, thereby contributing to the removal of necrotic tissue and to the reduction of bacterial burden. The trifunctional architecture of PEG allows precise control over the crosslinking density and, consequently, over the mechanical and structural properties of the hydrogel, ensuring adequate mechanical compliance with skin tissue and ease of clinical handling.The incorporation of a semi-interpenetrating network of a conducting polymer, poly[3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2-yl methanol] (PEDOT-MeOH), obtained by chemical oxidative polymerization of EDOT-MeOH monomers infiltrated into the clickHA matrix, endows the system with electro-responsive properties without compromising its structural integrity or biocompatibility. The influence of the infiltrated monomer concentration is systematically analyzed, demonstrating a progressive increase in electroactivity and the onset of electronic percolation at an EDOT-MeOH concentration of 0.05 M, above which effective conductive connectivity and reproducible electrochemical responses are achieved.Molecular dynamics simulations provide a mechanistic understanding of the internal organization of the system, revealing that EDOT-MeOH monomers aggregate into domains stabilized by π–π interactions that act as nucleation sites for polymerization, resulting in a homogeneous distribution of the conducting polymer within the HA matrix without altering its global structure. Finally, the electrochemical stability of the system and its application as an electrochemical sensor for the detection of NADH, a relevant biomarker of bacterial infection, are evaluated. ClickHA/PEDOT-MeOH hydrogels exhibit stable and selective electrochemical responses in the presence of interferents, both in model solutions and in bacterial culture media, enabling the early detection of infections. Overall, this thesis validates the clickHA/PEDOT-MeOH system as a robust multifunctional platform that integrates skin regeneration and electrochemical diagnostics, with high potential for translation into advanced smart wound dressings.
  

Reading date: 16/03/2026

• ALONSO, MATÍAS: Hydro-mechanical modelling of a sealing concept for a deep geological radioactive waste repository
  
  Author: ALONSO, MATÍAS
  Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
  Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
  Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
  Mode: Normal
  Deposit date: 15/12/2025
  Reading date: 16/03/2026
  Reading time: 11:00
  Reading place: ETSECCPB.UPC, Campus NordBuilding C1. Classroom: 002C/Jordi Girona, 1-308034 Barcelona
  Thesis director: VAUNAT, JEAN | OLIVELLA PASTALLE, SEBASTIAN
  Thesis abstract: Deep Geological Disposal (DGD) has emerged as the most viable solution for the final disposal of radioactive waste, offering the potential for the permanent containment and isolation of waste from the biosphere over extended timescales. Several countries have made significant progress in developing Deep Geological Repository (DGR) concepts for the permanent disposal of such waste. The long-term safety of these facilities relies primarily on the host rock—the natural barrier that plays the central role—supplemented by engineered components collectively referred to as the engineered barrier system (EBS). The EBS includes containers, backfills, buffers, and other structures designed to ensure favourable conditions for the long-term isolation of radioactive waste. The design, performance, and safety assessment of a DGR—and particularly of its EBS components—are therefore essential for the sustainable development of nuclear energy, making their study a key research area within geotechnical engineering.In this context, the main objective of this research is to contribute to the understanding and assessment of the long-term performance of a large-diameter sealing concept developed within the framework of the Cigéo project, led by the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra). To achieve this objective, a multi-scale and multi-step numerical modelling strategy has been adopted. The approach combines detailed material characterisation with advanced constitutive modelling of the expansive core, backfill materials, and host rock, accounting for features such as inherent anisotropy and double structure. The modelling framework incorporates coupled hydro-mechanical processes, enabling the analysis of key phenomena such as the natural hydration of the sealing core, the development of swelling pressure, the resaturation and recompression of the excavation-damaged zone (EDZ), the global equilibrium of the sealing system, and the potential deconfinement of the sealing core and its associated loss of swelling capacity. The simulations address the complexity of the problem by integrating large-scale three-dimensional geometries, advanced constitutive formulations, and critical geometric details at the decimetre scale. These challenging simulations provide valuable insights into the performance and long-term integrity of the sealing structures, establishing a robust framework and a powerful tool to enhance the understanding of the behaviour of these EBS, contributing to the optimisation of repository design and safety.