Almudena da Costa García

Almudena-DaCosta-Garcia

PhD in Civil Engineering (Doctor Ing. Caminos, C. y P.)

Lecturer (Profesor Contratado Doctor)

Departament of Ground Engineering and Material Science , University of Cantabria, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos

Av. de los Castros 44, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain

Tel: 942 20 18 13 / E-mail: dacostaa@unican.es

Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering since 2002. Civil Engineer from the University of Cantabria in 1998 and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Cantabria in 2004. Teaches in graduate and postgraduate programs and in the Cornell-Cantabria exchange program. Has participated in four Spanish Competitive Research Projects. Has seven publications in JCR journals, as well as 40 communications in national and international conferences. Is coauthor of one book.

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Publications

JCR journals

  • Da Costa, A., Sagaseta, C. 2010. “Analysis of shallow instabilities in soil slopes reinforced with nailed steel wire meshes”. Engineering Geology 113, pp. 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.02.005
  • Castro, J., Da Costa, A., Cimentada, A. 2010. On analysis of radial consolidation test data using a log-log method. Geotechnical Testing Journal 33, 165-166. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ102645
  • Cimentada, A., Da Costa, A., Cañizal, J., Sagaseta, C. 2011. “Laboratory study on radial consolidation and deformation in clay reinforced with stone columns”. Can. Geotech. J. 48(1): 36–52. https://doi.org/10.1139/T10-043
  • Castro, J., Cimentada, A., Da Costa, A., Cañizal, J. y Sagaseta, C. 2013. “Consolidation and deformation around stone columns: Comparison of theoretical and laboratory results”. Computers and Geothecnics. Vol. 49, Pp. 326-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.09.004
  • Miranda, M., Da Costa, A., Castro, J., Sagaseta, C. 2015. “Influence of gravel density in the behaviour of soft soils improved with stone columns”. Can. Geotech. J. 52 (12), 1968-1980. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0487
  • Miranda, M., Da Costa, A. 2016. “Laboratory analyses of encased stone columns”. Geotextiles and Geomembranes. 44 (3), 269-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2015.12.001
  • Miranda, M., Da Costa, A., Castro, J., Sagaseta, C. 2017. Influence of geotextile encasement on the behaviour of stone columns: Laboratory study. Geotextiles and Geomembranes. 45, 14-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2016.08.004.

Books

Sagaseta, C. Cañizal, J. da Costa. A. Geotecnia I. Propiedades del Terreno. Universidad de Cantabria. E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos.

International Conferences

  • Miranda, M., Da Costa, A., Castro, J., Sagaseta, C., Cañizal, J. 2017. Influence of geotextile encasement in triaxial tests on gravel. Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 17-22 September, 2017, Seoul, Korea. TC211-34, pp. 2595-2598.
  • Cañizal, J., Castro, J., Da Costa, A., Sagaseta, C., Sola, P. 2015. High rockfill embankment for the extension of an airport main runway. 15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 15–18 November 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina. From Fundamentals to Applications in Geotechnics (D. Manzanal, A.O. Sfriso Eds.). IOS Press. pp. 188-195. doi: 10.3233/978-1-61499-603-3-188.
  • Lapeña P, Cañizal J, Castro J, da Costa A, Sagaseta C, Martínez-Parra A. 2015. Mechanical characterization of MSW using field tests. 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE). 13-17 September 2015, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. In Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development. ICE Publishing. pp. 2729-2734. doi:10.1680/ecsmge.60678.422
  • Da Costa A, Sagaseta C, Cañizal J, Castro J. 2015. Geotechnical aspects of an airport extension, on soils of very low strength. 16th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE). 13-17 September 2015, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. In Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development. ICE Publishing. pp. 681-686. doi:10.1680/ecsmge.60678.086
  • Cañizal, F., Cañizal, J., Castro, J., Sagaseta, C., Da Costa, A. 2014. Ultimate pullout resistance of plate anchors buried in sandy seabed. Proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 2, 1237-1241. Delft, the Netherlands. In Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering (Hicks, Brinkgreve & Rohe, eds).
  • Castro, J., Sagaseta, C., Cañizal, J., Da Costa, A., Miranda, M. 2013. Foundations of embankments using encased stone columns. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 3, pp 2445-2448. Paris, France.
  • Cañizal, J., Lapeña, P., Castro, J., Costa da A., Sagaseta, C. 2013. Determination of shear strength of MSW. Field tests vs. laboratory results. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 4, pp 3005-3008. Paris, France.
  • Da Costa, A., Sagaseta, C., Cañizal, J., Castro, J. 2011. Shallow instabilities in weathered slopes. Limit equilibrium analysis. Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 4, pp. 1249-1254. Athens, Greece. 12-15 September 2011.
  • Sagaseta, C., Cañizal, J., Da Costa, A., Castro, J. 2011. Correction of a slope failure in clay shales with a particular pattern of discontinuities. 15th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 4, pp. 1389-1393. Athens, Greece. 12-15 September 2011.
  • Cañizal, J., Sagaseta, C. y Da Costa, A. 2009. “Bearing capacity of a mine waste dump more than 100 m thick “. XVIIth International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. Alexandria, Egypt. Proceedings of the XVIIth International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. 3, pp.1965-1968. Ed. IOS Press BV.
  • Barco, J.A., Cañizal, J., Castro, J., Da Costa, A., Sagaseta, C. 2007. Interaction between an open excavation and an embankment on improved ground. Proceedings of the 14th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 4, 1819-1824. Madrid.

Research Projects and Grants

1.Treatment of soft soils by gravel columns for the foundation of road embankments. Analysis of the process and design criteria.

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Entity: University of Cantabria
Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Number of researchers: 5
Funder: Ministry of Development
Start date: 15/12/2003 Duration: 3 years – 10 months
Value: 64.000 €

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2.Advanced system for triaxial testing with controlled trajectory stress an simple shear testing System (DSS) for soil samples.

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Entity: University of Cantabria
Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Number of researchers: 3
Funder: Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology
Start date: 01/01/2004 Duration: 1 year
Value: 156.586 €

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3.Advanced Modelling of Ground Improvement on Soft Soils (AMGISS).

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Entity: University of Cantabria
Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Funder: European Union. “Marie Curie Research Training Network”
Start date: 01/02/2005 Duration: 4 years

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4.Improvement of maginal and improper soils by white electric steel sluts for use in the construction of embankments.

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Entity: University of León
Principal researcher: Miguel Celemín Matachana
Number of researchers: 8
Funder: Ministry of Development
Start date: 06/12/2005 Duration: 3 years

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5. An integrated calculation procedure for stone columns, considering the influence of the method of installation (CALCOGRAVA) (BIA2009-13602)

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Entity: University of Cantabria
Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Number of researchers: 5
Funder: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Cantabria regional society for R&D
Start date: 01/01/2010 Duration: 3 years
Value: 148.750 €

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6. Mechanical properties of municipal solid waste (MSW) for the design and exploitation of landfills (PROMERSU) (BIA2012-34956).

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Entity: University of Cantabria
Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Number of researchers: 4
Funder: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
Start date: 01/02/2013 Duration: 3 years
Value: 105.300 €

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Contracts

1.Geotechnical consultancy for the extension of the hydraulic power plant of Moralets

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Principal researcher: César Sagaseta Millán
Number of researchers: 5
Funder: ENDESA Generación, S.A.
Start date: 12/12/2012 Duration: 4 años
Value: 12.402,04 €

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2.Geotechnical characterization of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) through field tests

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Principal researcher: Jorge Cañizal Berini
Number of researchers: 7
Funder: CESPA Gestión de Residuos, S.A.
Start date: 01/12/2010 Duration: 3 años
Value: 116.615,55 €

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Institutional responsibilities, memberships of scientific societies

  • Reviewer for international scientific journals in Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Coordinator for International Relations of the School of Civil Engineering of the University of Cantabria (since March 2018).

General indicators of quality of the scientific production

Positive evaluations of six-year research periods (Nº Sexenios): 2 (2006-20011 y 2012-2017)

Supervision of PhD theses: 2 (3/12/2014 y 10/06/2009)

Total citations: 42 (Web of Science), 72 (Scopus)

Citations per year in the last 5 years: 7,4 (Web of Science), 12,8 (Scopus)

Publications in Q1 journals: 4

Publications in Q1&Q2 journals: 2

Publications in JCR journals: 7

H-index: 6 (Web od Science), 6 (Scopus)

CV Summary

  • Degree in Civil Engineering (“Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos”) at University of Cantabria 1998.
  • PhD in Civil Engineering from University of Cantabria in 2004 (Sobresaliente “cum laude”).
  • Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Cantabria since 2002. Since 2010, as “Profesor Contratado Doctor”. Lecturing in graduate and postgraduate programs, and in the Cornell-Cantabria exchange program in civil engineering fundamentals.
  • Participation in 4 Spanish national competitive research projects (“Plan Nacional”) and in research projects funded by companies.
  • 7 publications in JCR journals, co-author of 1 book and 40 communications to national and international conferences.
  • Participation in 2 teaching innovation projects: “Geotecnia I” as Open Course Ware 2009-10 and “Development of innovation capacity, creativity and group work of civil engineering students through project-based learning” 2018-19.
  • Supervision of 2 PhD theses about stone columns.
  • Best paper within the topic “Correction, stabilization and environmental impact” in the IX National Symposium on Slopes and Landslides. Coordinator for International Relations of the School of Civil Engineering of the University of Cantabria (since March 2018).