Researcher | University of Aveiro | Portugal
Jorge Emanuel Ramalho da Fonseca is a Civil Engineer and Research Fellow at the University of Aveiro, specializing in the conservation, rehabilitation, and structural assessment of historic and traditional buildings. His professional experience spans advanced laboratory testing, field investigations, and the development of innovative systems for in-situ and cyclic testing of masonry, timber, and reinforced concrete elements. As part of several national and international projects, including Be+Earth, SPARCS, URBSIS, SEISMIC-V, SafEarth, and SHS-Multirisk, he has contributed to the design and testing of earthquake- and hurricane-resilient housing solutions and to the mechanical characterization of Portuguese masonry through flat-jack and full-scale wall tests. His research focuses on sustainable rehabilitation, seismic strengthening, and experimental methodologies for heritage structures, reflected in multiple high-impact publications in journals such as Applied Sciences, Construction and Building Materials, and the International Journal of Architectural Heritage. A member of the Portuguese Engineers Association and the Portuguese Association for Urban Rehabilitation and Heritage Protection, he actively participates in scientific collaborations within the CERIS-Aveiro research unit. He has also contributed to event organization and training initiatives supported by UNESCO and the University of Aveiro, promoting knowledge transfer in heritage conservation. His dedication to advancing experimental research, technical innovation, and sustainable preservation of built heritage positions him as an emerging leader in structural rehabilitation and seismic risk mitigation. His research impact includes 79 citations, 13 publications, and an h-index of 4.
Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar
1. Fonseca J., Costa A., Rodrigues H., Characterization of Portuguese Masonry Walls: Insights from Flat-Jack Tests. Int. J. Archit. Heritage, 2025, 1–34.
2. Ascensão G., Pereira J., Fonseca J., Costa A., Ferreira V.M., Paiva H., Reviving heritage with contemporary solutions for adobe wall rehabilitation. Constr. Build. Mater., 2025, 458, 139557.
3. Di Gregorio L., Costa A., Tavares A., Rodrigues H., Fonseca J., Guimarães G., Comprehensive Design Process of CEB-Reinforced Masonry Panels for Earthquake and Hurricane-Resilient Houses. Buildings, 2025, 15 (17), 3242.
4. Fonseca J., Rodrigues H., Costa A., Mechanical characterization of masonry walls through the application of in-situ flat-jack tests. Research Summit 2024 – Book of Abstracts, 2024.
5. Di Gregorio L., Costa A., Rodrigues H., Fonseca J., Tavares A., Development of a System for Cyclic Shear Tests on Full-Scale Walls. Appl. Sci., 2023, 13 (13), 7498.
Dr. Jorge Emanuel Ramalho da Fonseca’s research advances the sustainable preservation and seismic resilience of historic and traditional buildings, bridging scientific innovation with heritage protection. His experimental methods and engineering solutions enhance global practices in structural safety, cultural conservation, and resilient urban development.