Carlos Muñoz Blanc (Coordinator)

Contact

Department of Architectural Technology

Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB)

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Carlos Muñoz, PhD, is Serra Hunter Fellow at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. His Doctoral Thesis (2014), entitled "Physical-mathematical simulation of turbulence in building fires. Proposal for a new analysis methodology related to the qualitative verification of simulated turbulence", focuses on:

-Numerical simulation of turbulence.

-The mathematical problem of filtering variables.

-Theories related to the generation and dissipation of energy in the different turbulent scales.

-The influence of turbulent phenomena with the incidence of heat in the structures.

His research activity is focused on two fields strongly related to the design and calculation of highly complex structures: Wind Engineering and Fire Engineering, both within the Mechanics of Continuous Media and Theory of Structures. He considers multidisciplinary treatment essential in the design of structures.

This has allowed it to lead highly complex national and international projects with a significant amount of innovation in the field of structural engineering.

For example, as Area Manager of the multinational company BAC ECG (2011 - 2020) he has actively participated in the ITER nuclear fusion research project for 8 years. He has been co-author of several fire and wind engineering studies.

Fields of specialization

FIRE ENGINEERING

Specialized in the performance-based design of structures in a fire, which allows knowing what the real response to fire is and guaranteeing its integrity, maximizing safety and optimizing costs. Research in the field of post-fire structures. Evaluation of the safety of people using fire-evacuation interaction models (Eulerian-Lagrangian). Study of fire (both stationary fires and travelling fires) as a complex system in which a large number of variables intervene in its development.

WIND ENGINEERING

Analysis of wind actions in complex uildings. Behavior of the wind flow. Use of numerical methods to study the interaction between wind action and structural response, especially in tall buildings with a flexible response. Evaluation of the acceleration in towers and the comfort of the occupants, study of resonance phenomena, structural damping, etc.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Computational Fluid Dynamics: In the field of wind engineering, he is a specialist in the development of numerical simulations with the finite volume method, applying the theories of fluid dynamics, the study of turbulence and vortex-shedding. In fire engineering, numerical simulations also incorporate highly complex phenomena, such as combustion and heat transfer. Extensive experience in the use of HPC technologies in supercomputing centers.

Finite element method: Analysis of structures using the finite element method, considering explicit or implicit simulations, depending on the problem to be evaluated. Non-linear problems (geometric and mechanical), etc.

Selected publications

Muñoz Blanc, C., & Fortea Navarro, I. (2023). Evaluation of horizontal loads in the concept design of tall building concrete structures. Hormigón Y Acero. https://doi.org/10.33586/hya.2023.3094

Muñoz Blanc, Carlos; Obiol Sanchez, Agustín; Fortea Navarro, Inma; (2022). Evaluation of steel structures integrity in a post-fire condition: case study of the Serradells sports centre in Andorra. Fire Safety Journal. Vol 133 (103668). DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103668

Muñoz Blanc, Carlos; Obiol Sanchez, Agustín; Fortea Navarro, Inma; (2021). Analytical characterisation of axial shortening due to creep of reinforced concrete columns in tall buildings. Engineering Structures. Vol 228 (111584). DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111584

Muñoz, C., Fortea, I., Albareda, A. (2019). Evaluation of Cross-Wind actions in more than 50m high buildings by means of analytic methods. Informes De La Construcción, 71(554), e290. DOI: 10.3989/ic.62723

Muñoz Blanc, Carlos; Soler Orcal, Alicia; Margalet de Zabalo, Ramón; Ros Batlle, Xavier. Diseño Basado en Prestaciones frente a la acción del fuego del complejo de fusión nuclear ITER, en Francia. VII Structures International Congress of ACHE. 2017. HORMIGÓN Y ACERO. Special Number: VII International Structures Congress. Vol. 68. SC. S2. Edificación. C: 123-67.

Numerical simulation of accidental fires with a spillage of oil in large buildings. Projecte de recerca europeu: 653858 – PRACE-SHAPE. Investigador Principal: Muñoz Blanc, Carlos (2016-2017). Programa de recerca i innovació HORIZON 2020 de la UE. 150.000 hores/core de simulació al BSC-CNS.