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Prof. Alessandro Stocchino
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Prof. Alessandro STOCCHINO

Professor

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Education and Academic Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Hydraulic Engineering, University of Padua

Research Interests

  • My background is primarily in applied fluid mechanics, turbulence and mass transport. I had a long training in mathematical modelling and laboratory techniques. My research interest can be summarized as follows:
  • Mass transport and Mixing Processes.
  • I have been interested in this topic since the beginning of my PhD and, in these years, I have studied these processes either theoretically and experimentally. I have applied these concepts in several fields (environmental flows, bio-fluid mechanical applications such as the human eye and vascular diseases), which can be studied under common theoretical frameworks.
  • I am currently devoted to apply the most updated Lagrangian mixing measures (Finite time and Space Lyapunov exponents, Lagrangian Coherent Structures) in several geophysical context. Another hot topic of this line of research is the analysis of how micro-plastic is transported in marine environment. The pollution transport, including micro-plastic is the object of two European Interreg Projects that have been funded in these months.
  • Coastal and Estuarine circulation, Coastal Management
  • Directly connected to the previous topic, in these last two years our group has established a strong collaboration with important national and international research centres that control the Mediterranean HF-Radar coastal network, with the aim to investigate coastal circulation and several environmental issues. Indeed, the HF-radar data have been used in order to evaluate the dispersion properties of the circulation. These topics are carried out in synergy with the Maritime Authorities with the future goal to develop prevention measures and rapid response tools against marine pollution. Coastal circulation studies are also carried out using open source numerical models widely used in this field (DELF-3D, ROMS).
  • River Hydro-Morphodynamics
  • In several studies I have applied the stability linear and weakly non-linear theories with the aim to investigate the formation of small and meso-scale river bedforms (ripples, dunes and antidunes). As a research group, we have an internationally recognized expertise in river restoration and river morphodynamics. Besides, the theoretical studies, we have a deep knowledge of several numerical models commonly used for steady and unsteady flow simulations. The results have been collected in a series of scientific papers.
  • Flood risk Management
  • 1D and 2D numerical modelling is a powerful tools to be applied in river engineering in order to study the flooding risk and its mitigation measures. This line of research is the focus of one of the European project that started in 2017.
  • Bio-fluid mechanics.
  • I have dedicated many years to the study of the human vitreous dynamics induced by eye movements and its relationship with several retinal diseases. I have been in charge mainly of the experimental activities of these researches. We based our works on the in-vitro experiments reproducing the vitreous chamber and its rotations with detailed physical models. We then applied the most sophisticated measuring techniques (Particle Image Velocimetry) to quantify the vitreous motion and its effects on the retina, mostly evaluating the mechanical stresses. Our group in collaboration with a surgical unit tested also the applicability of the Particle Image Velocimetry in-vivo in order to characterise the status of the vitreous of the patient. In fact, we have analysed a series of ultrasound recordings with the same technique of the PIV, which in this case is known as US_PIV, and measure the velocities of the vitreous during controlled eye movements. This non-invasive technique is a promising method for a direct evaluation of several vitreous and retinal diseases.
  • Moreover, the laboratory activities aimed to investigate the drug delivery via direct injection within the vitreous chamber. Our group is internationally recognized as one of the main centre for the human vitreous dynamics studies. Recently, I coordinate a starting project on the fluid mechanical aspects of the vitrectomy, in particular, analysing the performance of different vitreous cutters and their possible effects on the retina. Most of the research has been developed in strict collaboration with ophthalmologists and retinal surgeons.

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