Rafael Ramirez

@isise.net

Researcher
Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE)

Rafael Ramirez


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https://researchid.co/rramirez

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Civil and Structural Engineering, Building and Construction, Mechanics of Materials, Modeling and Simulation
25

Scopus Publications

442

Scholar Citations

13

Scholar h-index

17

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Clay-Based Grout Injection for the Consolidation of Masonry Walls at Wupatki Pueblo: An Applied Investigation
    Laura Gambilongo, Rui A. Silva, Alberto Barontini, Rafael Ramirez, Paulo B. Lourenço
    International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 2026
    This study investigates the application of clay-based grout injection for consolidating masonry walls at the Wupatki Pueblo archaeological site (Arizona, USA), which have experienced accelerated degradation phenomena due to harsh environmental conditions. Three trial zones were selected for injection, each one evaluated based on the injected grout volume and on non-destructive testing, namely impact-echo and sonic tests. A compatible clay-based grout mixture with adequate fluidity, strength, and durability was designed using local soil. Fluidity was measured during works using the Marsh cone test, while compressive strength was evaluated afterwards. The volume of injecThe authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.ted grout was monitored during execution, and impact-echo and indirect sonic tests were conducted before, shortly after, and one-year after the intervention. The injected grout volumes exceeded the initial estimations in all zones, indicating wider crack extents and interconnected voids within the masonry. After injection, an increase in wave velocity was observed in most sonic tests, suggesting the effective filling of cracks, while the comparison of frequency spectra obtained from impact-echo tests yielded inconclusive results. Overall, the findings suggest that clay-based grout injection is a suitable intervention for consolidating masonry walls at the Wupatki Pueblo, although long-term issues, such as grout deterioration and crack reopening, should be monitored.
  • Advancing Built Cultural Heritage Conservation: Integration of Industry 5.0 Principles and Enabling Technologies
    Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Rafael Ramirez, Margarita L. Petrou, Vagelis Plevris, Maria Nogal
    Rilem Bookseries, 2026
  • Field Investigation and Numerical Modeling for the Seismic Assessment of the Castle of Lanjarón, Spain
    Hayden Luger, Rafael Ramirez, Paloma Pineda, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2025
    The Castle of Lanjarón is a 16th century stronghold located in Andalucía, Spain. After losing its military function, the castle was abandoned, leading to significant decay. Designated a national heritage site in 1985, recent efforts have sought to preserve its historical and cultural value. This study outlines an inspection and diagnosis campaign carried out on the castle. Non-destructive tests (NDTs) were employed to characterize the properties of the masonry, using both mechanical and wave-based methods. Dynamic identification was performed to determine dynamic and modal properties of the structure, which were used to develop and calibrate a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model (FEM) of the west wall, based on homogenized masonry material. Limit analysis and non-linear static (pushover) analysis under various boundary conditions were conducted to determine the maximum relative load factor in the out-of-plane direction. The results were compared to the expected peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the area, showing that the maximum load capacity of the wall exceeds local seismic demands with a safety factor of 1.39. The study highlights the efficacy of pairing a homogenized macro-modeling approach with wave-based and dynamic identification methods, particularly for resource efficiency. Finally, recommendations for future conservation efforts have been provided.
  • Structural Assessment of a War-Damaged Heritage Building in Lviv, Ukraine
    Rafael Ramirez, Annalaura Vuoto, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 2025
  • Seismic Assessment of the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon, Portugal
    Georgios Karanikoloudis, Rafael Ramírez, Nuno Mendes, Paulo B. Lourenço
    International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 2025
    Structural assessment of historic unreinforced masonry structures faces multiple challenges due to geometric complexities, material heterogeneity and phased reconstructions. Code-based seismic evaluation is essential, focused on displacement performance, to conclude on the current safety and optimization of retrofitting schemes. This study delivers a comprehensive methodology, combining inspections, ambient vibration testing, advanced numerical and kinematic analyses to evaluate the seismic and gravitational safety of the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon, Portugal, part of the UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery. Nonlinear pushover analyses and displacement-based assessment of the galleries revealed that seismic safety is satisfied for the usual design code earthquake, but showed vulnerability under severe earthquakes. The improved lateral capacity from a reinforced roof was demonstrated. An additional retrofitting scheme of embedded steel tie rods could enhance lateral capacity and ductility by 40%, while maintaining the structure’s aesthetic integrity, but at a high cost. This research provides a critical framework for evaluating the seismic performance and retrofitting of heritage structures, balancing modern building codes with conservation principles to ensure long-term structural safety and cultural preservation.
  • Modeling Approaches for Moisture Transport in Brick Masonry Walls
    Rafael Ramirez, Alejandro Jiménez-Rios, Bahman Ghiassi, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 2025
  • Moisture and Temperature Effects on Masonry Structures: The Civic Tower of Pavia as a Case Study
    Rafael Ramirez, Bahman Ghiassi, Paloma Pineda, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 2025
  • Long-Term Behaviour of GFRP-Reinforced Masonry Components Under Outdoor Environmental Conditions: Results After 5-Year Exposure
    Rafael Ramirez, Bahman Ghiassi, Daniel Oliveira, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, 2025
  • Industry 5.0, towards an enhanced built cultural heritage conservation practice
    Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, Maria Nogal
    Journal of Building Engineering, 2024
    The rise of Industry 4.0 has led to a rapid increase in digitalization and industrial operations. However, it has recently been deemed insufficient in fulfilling European objectives for 2030. In response, and to counteract the unintended negative consequences triggered by Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0 has been introduced. The purpose of this article is to shed light on how the architecture, engineering, construction, management, operation, and conservation industry can adapt and better prepare to embrace novel Industry 5.0 principles and enabling technologies, ultimately resulting in enhanced conservation practices for the built cultural heritage environment. To achieve this, a systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA methodology. The principal results of this article highlight the work of different conservation professionals and our views on the potential of Industry 5.0 for enhancing conservation practices. Major conclusions indicate that artificial intelligence and digital twins are the two most studied technologies in the field. Sustainability is broadly discussed throughout the analyzed literature, whereas resilience and human centrism require further research and implementation efforts to achieve a holistic Industry 5.0 adoption. The significant scientific novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive scope of the review in terms of principles and enabling technologies, with a particular emphasis on heritage buildings. Thus, it is valuable for conservation practitioners seeking best practices, for policymakers as it suggests ways to encourage the adoption of novel technologies and principles in conservation, and for researchers as it highlights gaps and stimulates further paths of research and innovation.
  • Evaluating the Role of Mortar Composition on the Cyclic Behavior of Unreinforced Masonry Shear Walls
    Meera Ramesh, Rafael Ramirez, Miguel Azenha, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Materials, 2024
    The mechanical behavior of unreinforced masonry (URM) shear walls under in-plane cyclic loading is crucial for assessing their seismic performance. Although masonry structures have been extensively studied, the specific influence of varying lime content in cement-lime mortars on the cyclic behavior of URM walls has not been adequately explored. This study addresses this gap by experimentally evaluating the effects of three mortar mixes with increasing lime content, 1:0:5, 1:1:6, and 1:2:9 (cement:lime:sand, by volume), on the cyclic performance of brick URM walls. Nine single-leaf wall specimens 900 mm × 900 mm were constructed and subjected to combined vertical compression and horizontal cyclic loading. Key parameters such as drift capacity, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation were measured. The results indicated that the inclusion of lime leads to a moderate improvement in drift capacity and ductility of the walls, with the 1:1:6 mix showing the highest lateral capacity (0.55 MPa), drift at cracking (0.08%), and drift at peak capacity (0.31%). Stiffness degradation and energy dissipation were found to be comparable across all mortar types. These findings suggest that partial substitution of cement with lime can enhance certain aspects of masonry performance. Further research is recommended to optimize mortar compositions for unreinforced masonry applications.
  • Simulation of blind pre-diction and post-diction shaking table tests on a masonry building aggregate using a continuum modelling approach
    Abide Aşıkoğlu, Jennifer D’Anna, Rafael Ramirez, Fabio Solarino, Antonio Romanazzi, Maria Pia Ciocci, Nicoletta Bianchini
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 2024
  • Influence of wall-to-floor connections and pounding on pre- and post-diction simulations of a masonry building aggregate tested on a shaking table
    N. Bianchini, M. P. Ciocci, F. Solarino, A. Romanazzi, R. Ramirez, J. D’Anna, A. Aşıkoğlu
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 2024
  • Shake-table testing of a stone masonry building aggregate: overview of blind prediction study
    I. Tomić, A. Penna, M. DeJong, C. Butenweg, A. A. Correia, P. X. Candeias, I. Senaldi, G. Guerrini, D. Malomo, B. Wilding, D. Pettinga, M. Spanenburg, N. Galanakis, S. Oliver, F. Parisse, R. Marques, S. Cattari, P. B. Lourenço, F. Galvez, D. Dizhur, J. M. Ingham, G. Ramaglia, G. P. Lignola, A. Prota, O. AlShawa, D. Liberatore, L. Sorrentino, R. Gagliardo, M. Godio, F. Portioli, R. Landolfo, F. Solarino, N. Bianchini, M. P. Ciocci, A. Romanazzi, A. Aşıkoğlu, J. D’Anna, R. Ramirez, F. Romis, M. Marinković, F. Đorđević, K. Beyer
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 2024
  • Seismic assessment of a dome structure with minarets as secondary elements: The case of Soltaniyeh Dome in Iran
    Arezu Feizolahbeigi, Rafael Ramirez, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Structures, 2024
  • APPLICATION OF MECHANICAL MODELLING STRATEGIES TO THE HYGROTHERMAL ANALYSIS OF MASONRY WALLS
    R. Ramirez, A. Jiménez-Ríos, B. Ghiassi, P. Lourenço
    World Congress in Computational Mechanics and Eccomas Congress, 2024
  • Industry 5.0 concepts and enabling technologies, towards an enhanced conservation practice: systematic literature review protocol
    Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Margarita L. Petrou, Rafael Ramirez, Vagelis Plevris, Maria Nogal
    Open Research Europe, 2024
  • Towards Enhanced Built Cultural Heritage Conservation Practices: Perceptions on Industry 5.0 Principles and Enabling Technologies
    Alejandro Jiménez Rios, Maria Nogal, Vagelis Plevris, Rafael Ramirez, Margarita L. Petrou
    Historic Environment Policy and Practice, 2024
  • Hygro-Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Brick Masonry Walls Subjected to Environmental Actions
    Rafael Ramirez, Bahman Ghiassi, Paloma Pineda, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2023
  • On Mechanical Behavior of Metal Anchors in Historical Brick Masonry: Testing and Analytical Validation
    Rafael Ramirez, Rosana Muñoz, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2023
  • Simulation of moisture transport in fired-clay brick masonry structures accounting for interfacial phenomena
    R. Ramirez, B. Ghiassi, P. Pineda, P.B. Lourenço
    Building and Environment, 2023
  • Preliminary Results on Natural Aging of GFRP-Reinforced Masonry Components Exposed to Outdoor Environmental Conditions
    Rafael Ramirez, Bahaman Ghiassi, Daniel V. Oliveira, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Key Engineering Materials, 2022
  • Experimental characterization of moisture transport in brick masonry with natural hydraulic lime mortar
    R. Ramirez, B. Ghiassi, P. Pineda, P.B. Lourenço
    Building and Environment, 2021
  • Bond behavior degradation between FRP and masonry under aggressive environmental conditions
    Rafael Ramirez, Hamid Maljaee, Bahman Ghiassi, Paulo B. Lourenço, Daniel V. Oliveira
    Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, 2019
  • Structural performance of the church of São Miguel de Refojos
    Rafael Ramírez, Nuno Mendes, Paulo B. Lourenço
    IABSE Symposium Guimaraes 2019 Towards A Resilient Built Environment Risk and Asset Management Report, 2019
  • Diagnosis and seismic behavior evaluation of the church of São Miguel de Refojos (Portugal)
    Rafael Ramírez, Nuno Mendes, Paulo B. Lourenço
    Buildings, 2019

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Clay-Based Grout Injection for the Consolidation of Masonry Walls at Wupatki Pueblo: An Applied Investigation
    L Gambilongo, RA Silva, A Barontini, R Ramirez, PB Lourenço
    International Journal of Architectural Heritage 20 (1), 17-37 , 2026
    2026
  • Seismic Assessment of the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon, Portugal
    G Karanikoloudis, R Ramírez, N Mendes, PB Lourenço
    International Journal of Architectural Heritage 19 (12), 3564-3592 , 2025
    2025
  • Structural Assessment of a War-Damaged Heritage Building in Lviv, Ukraine
    R Ramirez, A Vuoto, PB Lourenço
    International Conference on Recovery, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of … , 2025
    2025
  • Modeling Approaches for Moisture Transport in Brick Masonry Walls
    R Ramirez, A Jiménez-Rios, B Ghiassi, PB Lourenço
    International Conference on Moisture in Buildings, 631-640 , 2025
    2025
  • Advancing Built Cultural Heritage Conservation: Integration of Industry 5.0 Principles and Enabling Technologies
    AJ Rios, R Ramirez, ML Petrou, V Plevris, M Nogal
    International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions … , 2025
    2025
  • Field investigation and numerical modeling for the seismic assessment of the castle of Lanjarón, Spain
    H Luger, R Ramirez, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Applied Sciences 15 (3), 1518 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 3
  • Industry 5.0, towards an enhanced built cultural heritage conservation practice
    AJ Rios, ML Petrou, R Ramirez, V Plevris, M Nogal
    Journal of Building Engineering 96, 110542 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 36
  • Application of mechanical modelling strategies to the hygrothermal analysis of masonry walls
    R Ramirez, AJ Rios, B Ghiassi, PB Lourenço
    European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Towards enhanced built cultural heritage conservation practices: perceptions on Industry 5.0 principles and enabling technologies
    A Jiménez Rios, M Nogal, V Plevris, R Ramirez, ML Petrou
    The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice 15 (4), 466-492 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 11
  • Evaluating the Role of Mortar Composition on the Cyclic Behavior of Unreinforced Masonry Shear Walls
    M Ramesh, R Ramirez, M Azenha, PB Lourenço
    Materials 17 (18), 4443 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Shake-table testing of a stone masonry building aggregate: overview of blind prediction study
    I Tomić, A Penna, M DeJong, C Butenweg, AA Correia, PX Candeias, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 5993-6035 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 59
  • Influence of wall-to-floor connections and pounding on pre-and post-diction simulations of a masonry building aggregate tested on a shaking table
    N Bianchini, MP Ciocci, F Solarino, A Romanazzi, R Ramirez, J D’Anna, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 6141-6161 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 19
  • Simulation of blind pre-diction and post-diction shaking table tests on a masonry building aggregate using a continuum modelling approach
    A Aşıkoğlu, J D’Anna, R Ramirez, F Solarino, A Romanazzi, MP Ciocci, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 6163-6193 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 10
  • Moisture and Temperature Effects on Masonry Structures: The Civic Tower of Pavia as a Case Study
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, 845-865 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Long-Term Behaviour of GFRP-Reinforced Masonry Components Under Outdoor Environmental Conditions: Results After 5-Year Exposure
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, D Oliveira, PB Lourenço
    International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, 833-844 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Seismic assessment of a dome structure with minarets as secondary elements: The case of Soltaniyeh Dome in Iran
    A Feizolahbeigi, R Ramirez, PB Lourenco
    Structures 63, 106408 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 14
  • Industry 5.0 concepts and enabling technologies, towards an enhanced conservation practice: systematic literature review protocol
    AJ Rios, ML Petrou, R Ramirez, V Plevris, M Nogal
    Open Research Europe 4, 75 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • Hygro-thermo-mechanical analysis of brick masonry walls subjected to environmental actions
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Applied Sciences 13 (7), 4514 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 18
  • On mechanical behavior of metal anchors in historical brick masonry: testing and analytical validation
    R Ramirez, R Muñoz, PB Lourenço
    Applied Sciences 13 (6), 3999 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 14
  • Simulation of moisture transport in fired-clay brick masonry structures accounting for interfacial phenomena
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Building and Environment 228, 109838 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 23

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Shake-table testing of a stone masonry building aggregate: overview of blind prediction study
    I Tomić, A Penna, M DeJong, C Butenweg, AA Correia, PX Candeias, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 5993-6035 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 59
  • Experimental characterization of moisture transport in brick masonry with natural hydraulic lime mortar
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Building and Environment 205, 108256 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 46
  • Industry 5.0, towards an enhanced built cultural heritage conservation practice
    AJ Rios, ML Petrou, R Ramirez, V Plevris, M Nogal
    Journal of Building Engineering 96, 110542 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 36
  • Development of an aeroponic system for vegetable production
    JL Reyes, R Montoya, C Ledesma, R Ramirez
    II International Symposium on Soilless Culture and Hydroponics 947, 153-156 , 2011
    2011
    Citations: 34
  • Estudio de prevalencia del consumo de drogas en escolares de Enseñanza Básica, a través de la metodología de pares
    J Rodríguez, AM Fernández, E Hernández, M Valdés, M Villalón, ...
    Revista médica de Chile 137 (6), 774-784 , 2009
    2009
    Citations: 27
  • Simulation of moisture transport in fired-clay brick masonry structures accounting for interfacial phenomena
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Building and Environment 228, 109838 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 23
  • Bond behavior degradation between FRP and masonry under aggressive environmental conditions
    R Ramirez, H Maljaee, B Ghiassi, PB Lourenço, DV Oliveira
    Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 26 (1), 6-14 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 23
  • Diagnosis and seismic behavior evaluation of the church of São Miguel de Refojos (Portugal)
    R Ramírez, N Mendes, PB Lourenço
    Buildings 9 (6), 138 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 20
  • Seasonal Variation of in situ Digestibility of Dry Matter, Crude Protein and Cell Wall of Total Plant Leaves and Stems of Nueces Buffelgrass ( Cenchrus ciliaris L.)
    RG Ramírez, R Foroughbackhch, L Hauad, J Alba-Avila, ...
    Journal of Applied Animal Research 20 (1), 73-82 , 2001
    2001
    Citations: 20
  • Influence of wall-to-floor connections and pounding on pre-and post-diction simulations of a masonry building aggregate tested on a shaking table
    N Bianchini, MP Ciocci, F Solarino, A Romanazzi, R Ramirez, J D’Anna, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 6141-6161 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 19
  • Hygro-thermo-mechanical analysis of brick masonry walls subjected to environmental actions
    R Ramirez, B Ghiassi, P Pineda, PB Lourenço
    Applied Sciences 13 (7), 4514 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 18
  • Seismic assessment of a dome structure with minarets as secondary elements: The case of Soltaniyeh Dome in Iran
    A Feizolahbeigi, R Ramirez, PB Lourenco
    Structures 63, 106408 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 14
  • On mechanical behavior of metal anchors in historical brick masonry: testing and analytical validation
    R Ramirez, R Muñoz, PB Lourenço
    Applied Sciences 13 (6), 3999 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 14
  • Industry 5.0 concepts and enabling technologies, towards an enhanced conservation practice: systematic literature review protocol
    AJ Rios, ML Petrou, R Ramirez, V Plevris, M Nogal
    Open Research Europe 4, 75 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • Seasonal dynamics of the leaf nutrient profile of 20 native shrubs in northeastern Mexico.
    R Foroughbakhch, JL Hernández Piñero, R Ramirez, MA Alvarado, ...
    2007
    Citations: 12
  • Towards enhanced built cultural heritage conservation practices: perceptions on Industry 5.0 principles and enabling technologies
    A Jiménez Rios, M Nogal, V Plevris, R Ramirez, ML Petrou
    The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice 15 (4), 466-492 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 11
  • Simulation of blind pre-diction and post-diction shaking table tests on a masonry building aggregate using a continuum modelling approach
    A Aşıkoğlu, J D’Anna, R Ramirez, F Solarino, A Romanazzi, MP Ciocci, ...
    Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering 22 (12), 6163-6193 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 10
  • Nutritional value and effective degradability of crude protein in browse species from northeastern Mexico
    JGM Rodríguez, RG Ramírez, R Foroughbakhch
    Journal of Applied Animal Research 23 (1), 33-41 , 2003
    2003
    Citations: 7
  • Afectaciones psicosociales en mujeres mexicanas sobrevivientes de ataques con ácido
    AR Flores, R Ramírez, ELP Campos, XR Canseco, MCS Flores, ...
    Obtenido de https://recif. unam. mx/index. php/revista/article/view/37 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 5
  • Structural analysis of the church of the Monastery of São Miguel de Refojos
    R Ramirez
    Guimaraes: University of Minho , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 4