Osvaldo P M Vitali

Assistant Professor of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering
Office: Holmes Hall 339
Phone: (808) 956-9698
E-mail:  opmv@hawaii.edu
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=QfC-TfMAAAAJ
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Osvaldo-Vitali\
https://www.linkedin.com/in/opmvitali/

Areas of Specialty and Research Interest

  • Soil, Rock, and Salt Mechanics
  • Numerical Modeling Applied to Geotechnical Engineering
  • Tunnel design and construction
  • Applied Rock Engineering
  • Geo-structural design
  • Interaction between geotechnical-structural systems
  • Geomechanics applied to renewable energy

Education

  • Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Purdue University, IN. 2020
  • M.Sc. in Geotechnical Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil, 2011
  • B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, São Paulo State University, Bauru, SP, Brazil, 2009

Professional Registration

  • Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Geotechnical Engineering in the state of Hawaii.

Experience

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Jan 2024 – Present
  • Geotechnical Engineering Expert for Legal Disputes (autonomous), 2010 – Present
  • Post-doctoral associate at the University of São Paulo, 2022 – 2023
  • Geomechanics Specialist at Braskem S/A, 2021-2023
  • Senior Staff Engineer at Terracon Consultants, Inc. Geodesign sector, 2020-2021
  • Teaching Assistant at Purdue University, 2019-2020
  • Project Geotechnical Engineer at THEMAG Engenharia, 2010-2015
  • Consultant at Midas Brazil, 2012-2014

Courses Taught at UH (in the last five years)

  • CEE 355: Geotechnical Engineering I (S’24; F’25)
  • CEE 455: Geotechnical Engineering II (F’24; Summer/25)
  • CEE 696: Rock Mechanics (S’25)

Academic Activities

  • Early-Career Editor at the Underground Space Journal, 2021 – Present
  • Reviewer for peer-reviewed journals (Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology; International Journal of Geomechanics; International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics; Underground Space; Geotechnical and Geological Engineering; Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering; and others)

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES 

  1.  Celestino T. B.; Vitali, F. P.M., Vitali, O. P. M. (2025). Milton Vargas’ Lecture 2023: Shallow Tunnels in Cohesionless Soils: Ground Behavior and Building Damage Risks. Invited paper. Soils and Rocks. In Press.
  2.  Vitali, O. P. M. (2025) Geomechanics Behavior of Salt Caverns Following Depressurization and Backfilling. International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE). 25(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-1063
  3. Vitali, F. P. M; Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2024). Numerical analysis of relative density effects on shallow TBM tunnel excavation: Ground behavior and principal strains at surface in greenfield conditions. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2024.106104.
  4. Vitali, O. P. M; Vitali, F. P. M. (2024) Influence of Overburden Rock Characteristics on Stress Arching and Surface Subsidence Over Salt Caverns. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-024-02773-w
  5. Savigamin, C; Bobet, A.; Vitali, O. P. M (2024) Seismic response of deep circular tunnels subjected to S-waves: Axial bending. Underground Space (17) 267-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2023.11.013
  6. Vitali, F. P. M; Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2024) FEM modeling requirements for accurate highly nonlinear shallow tunnels analysis. Soil and Rocks. 47(1). 10.28927/SR.2024.000923.
  7. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2022) 3D face effects of tunnels misaligned with the principal directions of material and stress anisotropy. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2021.104347
  8. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2022) Construction strategies for a NATM tunnel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in residual soil. Underground Space. 7(1): 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2021.04.002
  9. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B; Bobet, A. (2021) Behavior of tunnels excavated with dip and against dip. Underground Space 6(6):709-717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2021.04.001
  10. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2021). New modeling approach for tunnels under complex ground and loading conditions. Soils and Rocks. 44(1). DOI: 10.28927/SR.2021.052120
  11. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2020) Analytical solution for a deep circular tunnel in anisotropic ground and anisotropic geostatic stresses. Rock Engineering and Rock Mechanics. 53, 3859–3884. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02157-5.
  12. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2020). Tunnel misalignment with geostatic principal stress directions in anisotropic rock masses. Soils and Rocks, São Paulo, 43(1): 123-138, January-March. DOI: 10.28927/SR.431123
  13. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2019). Shallow tunnels misaligned with geostatic principal stress directions: analytical solution and 3D face effects. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology.89: 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2019.04.006
  14. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2019). Buoyancy effect on shallow tunnels. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 114(2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.12.012
  15. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2018). Analytical solution for tunnels not aligned with geostatic principal stress directions. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 82: 394–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.08.046
  16. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2018). 3D finite element modelling optimization for deep tunnels with material nonlinearity. Underground Space, 3(2), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2017.11.002

  17. Vitali, O. P. M.; Pedrini, R. A. A.; Giacheti, H. L.; Oliveira, L. P. R. (2012) Developing a system for down-hole seismic test together with the CPTU, Soils and rocks, April/2012 issue. 

PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE ARTICLES 

  1. Vitali, F. P. M; Formigari, R.C.; Vitali, O. P. M. (2026). Numerical Modeling of Centrifuge Tunnel Tests using the Norsand and the Hardening Soil Model. In review for Geocongress2026.
  2. Vitali, F. P. M; Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2026). Impact of Boundary Conditions on Centrifuge Tunnel Tests. In review for Geocongress2026.
  3. Vitali, F. P. M; Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino (2024). Influence of Tunnel Depth on Ground Response in Loose and Dense Sandy Soils in Urban Environments. In: Proceedings of COBRAMSEG2024, September 24-27.
  4. Vitali, F. P. M; Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino (2024). The Influence of Isotropic Compression Stiffness on Ground Deformation Induced by Shallow Tunnels. In: Proceedings of COBRAMSEG2024, September 24-27.
  5. Vitali, O. P. M Getchell, A.; Santagata, M. C. (2023). Early exposure to FEM to enhance undergraduate engagement in geotechnical engineering. In: Proceedings of Geo-Congress2023, GSP 342:544-553.
  6. Vitali, O. P. M; Nasim M.; Khasawneh Y. (2023). Load transfer mechanism of an anchor foundation system through 3D finite element modeling. In: Proceedings of Geo-Congress2023, GSP 341:573-581.
  7. Vitali, O. P. M.; Nasim M.; Khasawneh Y. (2022). Cyclic and monotonic behavior of onshore wind turbine foundation systems in cohesionless ground. In: Proceedings of Geo-Congress2022, GSP 332:228-237.
  8. Vitali, O. P. M.; Nasim M.; Khasawneh Y. (2021). An enhanced P&H tensionless pier foundation for onshore wind turbines. In: Proceedings of the 46th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations (DFI 2021), p. 656-665.
  9. Vitali, O. P. M.; Nasim M.; Khasawneh Y. (2021). Cyclic degradation on wind turbine foundations in cohesive soil. In: Proceedings of the 46th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations (DFI 2021), p. 666-675.
  10. Vitali, O. P. M.; Nasim M.; Khasawneh Y. (2021) 3D finite element modelling of a ground improvement solution. Proceedings of the 46th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations (DFI 2021), p. 560-568.
  11. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2020). Deformation patterns and 3D face effects of tunnels misaligned with the geostatic principal stresses in isotropic and anisotropic rock masses. In: Proceedings of 54th US Rock Mechanics /Geomechanics Symposium (ARMA 2020).
  12. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2019). Progressive failure due to tunnel misalignment with geostatic principal stresses. In: Proceedings of ISRM 14th International Congress on Rock Mechanics: 2292-2299.
  13. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bobet, A. (2019). Shallow tunnel not aligned with the geostatic principal stress directions. In: Proceedings of Geo-Congress2019, GSP 313:214-222.
  14. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Pimenta J. A. De M. Asakawa S. S. (2012). Numerical modeling of a slope stabilization with jet grouting columns (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of XVI COBRAMSEG, Porto de Galinhas, PE, Brazil.
  15. Vitali, O. P. M.; Celestino T. B.; Bortolucci A. A. (2012). Evaluation of end effects on uniaxial compression tests on rocks by experimental data and numerical modeling (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of XVI COBRAMSEG, Porto de Galinhas, PE, Brazil.
  16. Vitali, O. P. M; Rios S.; Viana Da Fonsaca A. (2012). Influence of the soil-cement composition on stiffness and strength properties (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of XVI COBRAMSEG, Porto de Galinhas, PE, Brazil.
  17. Giacheti, H. L; Vitali, O. P. M.; Souza, T. J; Pedrini, R. A. A. (2012). The seismic piezocone test: performance, interpretation and application examples (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of SEFE 7, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
  18. Vitali, O. P. M.; Pedrini, R. A. A.; Giacheti, H. L. (2011). Shear wave velocity in down-hole seismic tests: Equipment and factors affecting the test data. In: Proceedings of 14th PanAm, Toronto, Canada.
  19. Vitali, O. P. M.; Pedrini, R. A. A.; Giacheti, H. L. (2010). Factors affecting the maximum shear modulus in down-hole seismic tests together with the piezocone (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of XV COBRAMSEG, Gramado, RS, Brazil.
  20. Pedrini, R. A. A.; Vitali, O. P. M.; Giacheti, H. L. (2010). Software for interpretation of the Down-Hole seismic test (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of XV COBRAMSEG, Gramado, RS, Brazil.

  21. Vitali, O. P. M.; Pedrini, R. A. A.; Giacheti, H. L. (2010). First results of a system to perform the down-hole seismic test under development (in Portuguese). In: Proceedings of 12º CNG, Guimarães, Portugal.

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