Mineral-bonded composites
for enhanced structural impact safety

Mineral-bonded composites
for enhanced structural impact safety

Mineral-bonded composites
for enhanced structural
impact safety

GRK 2250/3 Summer School 2025

  • 02.06. - 05.06.2025

  • Lecco, Italy

The Research Training Group GRK2250/3 Summer School 2025 took place from 2 to 5 June 2025 in Lecco, Italy, and brought together doctoral researchers and principal investigators for an intensive scientific program focused on mineral-bonded composites for enhanced structural impact safety. The event took place in the Politecnico di Milano, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), and the EU Joint Research Centre, highlighting the strong international and interdisciplinary character of the Research Training Group.

The Summer School brought together GRK doctoral researchers from different cohorts and disciplines, offering a stimulating environment for scientific exchange, discussion, and collaboration. The program combined keynote lectures by internationally recognized experts with presentations by GRK members, complemented by laboratory visits and technical excursions that provided direct insight into experimental research infrastructure.

Previous slide
Next slide
The scientific program opened with a visit to SUPSI in Mendrisio, Switzerland, where participants attended lectures by Prof. Ezio Cadoni and Dr. Daniele Forni on high strain-rate material behavior and the dynamic response of advanced cementitious fiber-reinforced composites. A guided tour of the DynaMat Laboratory provided hands-on insight into experimental techniques for investigating materials and structural elements under extreme loading conditions.
The following days at the Politecnico di Milano campus in Lecco were dedicated to a broad range of scientific contributions. Keynote lectures were delivered by Prof. Marco di Prisco, Prof. Matteo Colombo, and Prof. Liberato Ferrara, addressing topics such as high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete under high strain rates and elevated temperatures, shock tube testing under blast and fire loads, and the role of advanced cementitious composites in sustainable and resilient construction. In addition, GRK doctoral researchers presented their ongoing work, covering multiscale simulations, impact-resistant strengthening strategies, automated reinforcement concepts, sustainability assessments, and the application of data-driven and AI-based methods in material and structural design.
Previous slide
Next slide
Previous slide
Next slide
A central element of the Summer School was the strong emphasis on experimental facilities and real-scale testing. Participants visited the structural engineering laboratories at the Politecnico di Milano, including the Pier Luigi Nervi Laboratory, as well as the shock tube facility in Galbiate. The program concluded with a technical excursion to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Ispra, featuring an introduction to EU-JRC research units and guided visits to the ELSA reaction wall and HopLab facilities.

The scientific program was complemented by social and networking activities, including a boat trip on Lake Como and joint dinners, which provided a relaxed setting for informal discussions and further exchange among participants. Overall, the Summer School 2025 offered a comprehensive overview of current research and developments within GRK2250/3 and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, experimental validation, and innovative material concepts for improving the resilience of structures under extreme loading conditions.

Previous slide
Next slide