Mario Mongiardini

Dr Mario Mongiardini

Research Fellow

Centre for Automotive Safety Research

Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences

I joined the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) as a Research Associate in 2018. Previously, I held research positions at two other institutions, in USA (2010- 2012) and in Sydney (2012-2018). I graduated with a PhD in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA) in 2010 and a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy) in 2003.

Within the years, I have worked on various topics orbiting around road safety; from testing roadside safety barriers and vehicle passive safety to assessing the safety benefits of road treatments and emerging vehicle safety technologies. Throughout these diverse work experiences, he developed and applied various engineering and analytical skills such as detail modelling crash events using finite element analysis, conducting before/after analysis to assess the safety benefits of road safety treatments, designing and supervising experimental crash tests, as well as programming computer codes to effectively deliver specific tasks of a project.

By conducting research activities at academic institutions, I have developed a strong and rigorous approach for formulating problems, proposing feasible solutions, and implementing solutions in a successful manner. Additionally, I also developed effective approaches to successfully train students on various technical topics.
I am author or co-author of various peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and conferences, as well as technical reports to various road agencies.

My research interests are focused all around road safety, ranging from safe road infrastructure to vehicle safety.

Current and past research activities on road infrastructure include implementing the Safe System approach to improve the safety of existing or planned road infrastructure, testing and evaluating the safety performance of road safety barriers, evaluating the safety benefits of traditional treatments as well as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Additionally, I have been involved in research related to the analysis of data using Naturalistic Driving Studies (NDS) with an emphasis on identifying the interaction of drivers with infrastructures.
Other research activities I have conducted on vehicle safety include evaluating the safety benefits of emerging vehicle technologies, such as Advanced Driver Assisting Systems (ADAS) and Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), crash testing of vehicle rollovers, and modelling quad-bike safety in farming environment.

In both my current and past research activities, I have used a variety of approaches varying from data analysis to numerical modelling and from conducting physical tests to real-world trials. The modelling activities I use range from programming ad-hoc computer codes (e.g., for predicting the number of crashes in the future) to using advanced non-linear finite element software to predict with high details vehicle deformation and kinematics during crash events. Trials of road infrastructure treatment or crash testing are conducted in collaboration with road safety authorities and crash test facilities, respectively.

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  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2018 Research Fellow The University of Adelaide
    2012 - 2018 Research Associate UNSW Australia
    2010 - 2012 Post-Doctoral Research Associate University of Nebraska–Lincoln
    2006 - 2009 Research Assistant Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    2004 - 2006 Research Engineer Polytechnic University of Milan

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Italian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Spanish; Castilian Can read

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2010 Worcester Polytechnic Institute United States PhD
    2003 Polytechnic University of Milan Italy MSc

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2004 Professional engineering qualification in Mechanical Engineering Polytechnic University of Milan Italy

  • Research Interests
    Automotive Safety Engineering Autonomous Vehicles Road Safety Simulation and Modelling Virtual Reality and Related Simulation
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  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2021 Mongiardini, M., Stokes, C. S., & Woolley, J. E. (2021). Evaluation of a warning system to reduce the risk of casualty crashes at rural junctions in South Australia. Traffic Injury Prevention, 22(5), 390-395.
    DOI
    2019 Hicks, D., Mongiardini, M., Grzebieta, R., Rechnitzer, G., & Simmons, K. (2019). Modelling a quad-bike rollover mechanism when traversing an asymmetric bump. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 24(5), 543-554.
    DOI
    2018 Hicks, D., Grzebieta, R., Mongiardini, M., Rechnitzer, G., Simmons, K., & Olivier, J. (2018). Investigation of when quad bikes rollover in the farming environment. Safety Science, 106, 28-34.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS6
    2017 Tan, T., Mongiardini, M., Grzebieta, R., & Mattos, G. (2017). Reconstruction of a rollover crash for thoracic injury etiology investigation. Safety, 3(4), 27.
    DOI Scopus1
    2016 Mongiardini, M., Grzebieta, R., Mattos, G., & Bambach, M. (2016). Computer modelling of vehicle rollover crash tests conducted with the UNSW Jordan Rollover System. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 21(3), 173-190.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS2
    2015 Stolle, C., Reid, J., Faller, R., & Mongiardini, M. (2015). Dynamic strength of a modified W-beam BCT trailing-end termination system. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 20(3), 301-315.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS1
    2014 Mongiardini, M., Hicks, D., Grzebieta, R., & Rechnitzer, G. (2014). Modeling a quad bike for simulating Rollover events. Transportation Research Record, 2425(1), 50-60.
    DOI Scopus2
    2013 Mongiardini, M., & Reid, J. D. (2013). Investigation of a series of relevant phenomena for modelling the full-scale crash test of a small vehicle with a guardrail system. International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 5(1), 58-75.
    DOI Scopus1
    2013 Mongiardini, M., Ray, M. H., & Plaxico, C. A. (2013). Development of a programme for the quantitative comparison of a pair of curves. International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 46(2), 128-141.
    DOI Scopus3
    2013 Mongiardini, M., Faller, R., Reid, J., & Sicking, D. (2013). Dynamic Evaluation and Implementation Guidelines for a Nonproprietary W-Beam Guardrail Trailing-End Terminal. Transportation Research Record, 2377(2377), 61-73.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS2
    2013 Mongiardini, M., Faller, R. K., Reid, J. D., Meggers, D., El-Aasar, M. G., & Plunkett, J. D. (2013). Design and testing of a concrete safety barrier for use on a temporary FRP composite bridge deck. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 18(11), 1198-1208.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS4
    2012 Lechtenberg, K., Rosenbaugh, S., Bielenberg, R., Mongiardini, M., Faller, R., & De Albuquerque, F. (2012). Development and implementation of the simplified midwest guardrail system stiffness transition. Transportation Research Record, 2309(2309), 81-93.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3
    2011 Mongiardini, M., Rosenbaugh, S. K., Faller, R. K., Reid, J. D., Bielenberg, R. W., & Sicking, D. L. (2011). Design and testing of two bridge railings for transverse nail-laminated timber deck bridges. Transportation Research Record, 2262(2262), 119-130.
    DOI
    2010 Mongiardini, M., Ray, M. H., & Anghileri, M. (2010). Acceptance criteria for validation metrics in roadside safety based on repeated full-scale crash tests. International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 4(1), 69-88.
    DOI Scopus7
    2009 Ray, M. H., Mongiardini, M., & Atahan, A. O. (2009). Design and analysis of annisquam river bridge railing. International Journal of Crashworthiness, 14(2), 197-213.
    DOI Scopus5 WoS5
    2009 Ray, M. H., Silvestri, C., Conron, C. E., & Mongiardini, M. (2009). Experience with cable median barriers in the United States: Design standards, policies, and performance. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 135(10), 711-720.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS16

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2017 Mongiardini, M., Walton, B., McKay, M., Grzebieta, R., Menictas, C., Berg, A., & Rücker, P. (2017). Development of a Motorcycle FE Model for Simulating Impacts into Roadside Safety Barriers. In TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CIRCULAR E-C220 (pp. 657-673). Washington DC: Transportation Research Board (TRB).
    2011 Mongiardini, M., & Reid, J. (2011). Numerical investigation of the performance of a roadside safety barrier located behind the break point of a slope. In ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011 Vol. 9 (pp. 69-75). Denver, CO: AMER SOC MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.
    DOI Scopus2
    2009 Mongiardini, M., Silvestri, C., & Ray, M. H. (2009). Quantitative validation of a finite element model of a knee-thigh-hip complex of a 50<sup>th</sup> percentile male. In Proceedings of the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference 2009, SBC2009 (pp. 1149-1150). Lake Tahoe, CA: AMER SOC MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.
    DOI

  • Report for External Bodies
    Year Citation
    2019 Elsegood, M., Mackenzie, J., Dutschke, J., & Mongiardini, M. (2019). Automated Vehicles and the Readiness of Western Australian roads (Phase 2): Suitability of WA roads for Lane Departure Warning systems (RR 19-07). Bentley: Curtin University.
    2018 Mongiardini, M., Raftery, S., Ponte, G., & Woolley, J. (2018). Evaluation of the ACT Government's safer cycling reforms (CASR154). Adelaide: Centre for Automotive Safety Research.

At CASR, we regularly secure funding to carry out research activities on topics related to road safety.

Our main sources of funding include Australian road authorities (e.g., South Australia Department for Infrastructure and Transportation or the Victoria Department of Transport), government agencies (e.g., The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications), as well as road organisations (e.g., Austroads).

We also occasionally secure funding from industry partners.

I am available to co-supervise HDR students.

I am available for train students using the non-linear finite element analysis software ANSYS LS-DYNA for advanced simulations of impact events (e.g,, crashes of structures, drop tests, ballistic tests, biomechanical testing).

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  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2011 - 2015 Member Roadside Safety Design (AKD20, formerly AFB20) Transport Research Board (TRB) United States

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2013 - 2017 Member Australian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Australia

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2017 - 2017 Australasia Road Safety Conference (ARSC) 2017 Editorial Australian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Australia
  • Position: Research Fellow
  • Phone: 83135889
  • Email: mario.mongiardini@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering Annex
  • Room: a115
  • Org Unit: Centre for Automotive Safety Research
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