Matteo Pedrotti

Dr. Matteo Pedrotti is a Senior Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. His academic career focuses on geomechanics and advanced geomaterials research, with a particular emphasis on understanding material behavior from nano-to-micro scales to field applications. He leads multiple research projects and serves as a peer reviewer for prominent journals in his field.

Dr. Pedrotti's research interests span the design and characterization of advanced composite systems of geomaterials and synthesized hydrogels. His work investigates how atmospheric interactions, stress history, and groundwater chemistry influence hydro-mechanical characteristics at the nano and micro scales. This research enables the engineering of advanced porous networks with unprecedented macroscopic bulk performance. His vision includes establishing a research group to develop "super soils" with enhanced water retention for agriculture, increased mechanical strength for construction, self-healing capabilities against desiccation cracking, and zero water permeability for environmental barriers.

Analysis of Dr. Pedrotti's publication record reveals a strong focus on clay mechanics and soil characterization techniques. His research employs advanced methods like X-ray Computed Tomography to study particle kinematics and microstructural behavior. The work spans fundamental micromechanics of clay particles to practical applications in soil stabilization and environmental protection. Key themes include drying-induced volumetric behavior, pore-scale modeling, and the utilization of materials like mica for soil improvement.

Dr. Pedrotti actively supervises postgraduate research and leads multiple funded projects. His current research portfolio includes:

• Exploring natural fibers to improve resilience of unreinforced masonry structures in Malawi (£24,986 funding)
• Experimental characterization of Bentonite hydromechanical behavior in high salinity environments (multiple projects totaling approximately £122,000)
• Mechanisms of stress transfer in clayey materials using X-ray Computed Tomography at Diamond Light Source (£60,000)
• An energy-free pump using nanoporous gels for passive subsurface water lifting

Dr. Pedrotti maintains active professional engagement through peer review activities for journals like ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering and Scientific Reports. He organizes the Geotechnical Engineering Course (CL-314) and participates in international symposia including IS-Grenoble2024 and the EPSRC Multi-Disciplinary IM3AGES Facility Workshop.