Fontana, Mario, Prof. Dr.

Teaching activities

Lectures

• Brückenbau, Teil Stahl- und Verbundbrücken (Steel and Composite Bridges)
• Holz und Holzwerkstoffe (Timber and Timber Composites)
• Stahlbau I (Steel Structures: Principles of Design I)
• Stahlbau II und Hallenbauten (Steel Structures: Principles of Design II and Industrial Buildings)
• Stahlbau III (Steel Structures: Special Aspects)

Research

Ongoing research projects

I am involved in the following ongoing research projects:

• Thermal creep effects on stability of steel columns in fire
  The results of the former research project show the distinctive influence of thermal creep on the cross-sectional capacity and slender column and beam-column strength in fire. The project aims at analyzing the influence of thermal creep on the stability behavior of steel beam-columns in fire.
• Fire behavior of concrete-filled steel hollow section columns with steel cores
  The aim of the research project is to analyze the load-carrying behavior of concrete-filled steel tubular columns with steel core subjected to fire. The intension is to develop a calculation model for this kind of steel-concrete composite sections subjected to axial compression and fire. This model will allow taking into account flexural buckling, residual stresses, temperature-dependent material properties for steel and concrete, thermal strains and stresses as well as standard ISO and natural fire exposures.
• Buckling and flexural buckling of steel columns in fire
  The research project aims at analyzing the fire resistance of rectangular hollow sections and I-profiles subjected to axial compression as well as combined axial compression and uniaxial bending.
• Fire performance of concrete made of blended cement in comparison to ordinary Portland cement
  The aim of the research project is to enlarge the theoretical and experimental background on the fire performance of concrete made of blended cement in comparison to ordinary Portland. Particular attention is given the reduction of concrete strength at high temperatures and during the cooling phase. The temperature dependent stress-strain relationships measured will be used as material input parameters for further analysis.
• Application of fire protective coatings on concrete elements
  Spalling of concrete may significantly decrease the fire resistance of concrete structures exposed to fire, in particular in the case of high- and ultrahigh-strength concrete. Coatings applied like paint to the concrete surface creates a highly effective thermal barrier for fire, reducing the risk of spalling. The aim of the research project is to enlarge the theoretical and experimental background of the fire behaviour of fire protective coatings applied to concrete and to develop a design model for the calculation of the fire resistance of concrete elements protected by coatings.
• Numerical simulation of spalling behavior of high and ultrahigh performance concrete
• Fire behaviour of cross-laminated solid timber panels
  Cross-laminated solid timber panels represent an interesting technical and economical product for modern timber structures. The fire behaviour of cross-laminated solid timber panels can be strongly influenced by the behaviour of the bonding adhesive. Objective of the research project is the development of a calculation model for the fire resistance of cross-laminated solid timber panels taking into account the behaviour of the bonding adhesive at high temperature.
• Fire behaviour of glued-laminated timber beams
  The structural behaviour of glued-laminated timber beams is strongly influenced by the behaviour of finger joints. The behaviour of the adhesive used for bonding can influence the fire resistance of glued-laminated timber beams. The aim of the research project is the development of a calculation model for the fire resistance of glued-laminated timber beams taking into account the behaviour of the bonding adhesive at high temperature.
• Structural behavior of glued-laminated timber members subjected to axial compression or combined compression and bending
  The project aims at the development of fundamental knowledge and advanced calculation models for the design of glued laminated timber members subjected to axial compression or combined compression and bending based on 2nd order analysis.
• Structural behavior of glued-laminated timber beams with nothes at the support or with holes
  The project aims at the development of fundamental knowledge and advanced calculation models for the design of glued laminated timber members with notches at support or with holes. Particular attention will be given to the identification and analysis of key parameters.
• Generic fire risk assessment in residential and industrial buildings
  The aim of the research project is the development of a method for fire risk assessment in residential and industrial buildings.
• Economic optimization of fire safety measures
  Costs of fire safety measures have to be balanced with the benefits they provide. For measures required by fire safety codes, this optimization needs to be done on a portfolio basis. The aim of the project is to evaluate the efficiency of different measures as a basis for future code revisions.
• Strengthened cardboard as load bearing elements for sustainable construction
• On the local buckling behaviour of unstiffened elements subjacted to fire
  The collaborative research project at Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zurich aims at experimentally and numerically analyzing the local buckling behavior of unstiffened elements and crux profiles subjected to fire.
• Application of combustible insulation materials in buildings
  The use of combustible insulation materials in buildings is limited due to fire regulations. The aim of the project is to enlarge the experimental background on the fire behaviour of combustible insulation materials and to provide design rules for an extended use in buildings.
• Load-carrying behaviour of steel deck concrete composite slabs
  The use of profiled steel sheets in combination with a concrete layer results in a good solution for the construction of building floors. The project aims at analysing the longitudinal shear capacity of composite floors during service life.

A selection of completed research projects

I was involved in the following completed research projects:

• Local buckling behaviour of steel sections subjected to fire:
  Local buckling under fire conditions needs to be considered according to a wider range of cross-sectional slenderness than in ambient temperature design. A novel strain-based approach has been developed which uses effective widths for stiffened and unstiffened elements at elevated temperatures in fire. The strain-based formulations avoid the use of section classes for fire design and consider the plastifications effects, plastic stress distribution, and the strain-dependent non-linear material behaviour of steel at high temperatures.
• Load-carrying behaviour of steel beam-columns subjected to fire:
  The research project aims at analysing the load-carrying behaviour of steel beam-columns subjected to axial compression, biaxial bending and fire. The flexural and lateral-torsional buckling resistance will be studied. The intension is to develop interaction diagrams and a calculation model.
• Fire Resistance of Timber Connections:
  The aim of the research project is to develop design models for fire resistance of 30 and 60 minutes for timber connections.
• Numerical Modeling of Heated Composite Floor Slabs:
  The aim of this research is to simulate the behaviour of composite steel-concrete building floors exposed to fire. The object is to develop numerical methods that can predict the behaviour of such structures when subjected to fire. A new approach is used to model the shear connection between the beams and the slab. It is planed to analyze a variety of inner fields, edge-fields and corner-fields. The outcome of this will be flow-charts and tables for the appropriate dimensioning of such slabs in practise.
• Structural Behaviour of Steel Columns Subjected to Local Buckling and Fire:
  Local buckling mainly influences the structural behaviour and the resistance of steel columns in fire. The research aims at providing fundamental knowledge of this structural behaviour and developing calculation methods for local-global buckling interaction of steel members in fire. The research includes theoretical, numerical and experimental analysis. An extensive testing program will be performed on compact and thin-walled steel stub columns and columns at elevated temperatures.
• Cardboard in Architectural Technology and Structural Engineering (CATSE) - Investigation of the technical properties of cardboard and cardboard composites for use in structural engineering
  The main objective of this doctoral research is to assess cardboard honeycomb materials with regards to their application as structural elements in construction. This project is carried out in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture (http://www.www.deplazes.arch.ethz.ch/) which is investigating the architectural aspects of using cardboard in construction.
• Fire Behaviour of Light Timber Frame Wall Assemblies:
  The aim of the research project is to enlarge the theoretical and experimental background of the fire behaviour of light timber frame wall assemblies. The assemblies considered consist of solid timber members (studs) and linings of gypsum plasterboards or wood based panels (or combinations), with or without cavity insulation made of rock or glass fibres.
• Load-Carrying Behaviour of Stiffened and Unstiffened Elements with Non-Linear Stress-Strain Relationships:
  Aluminium, stainless steel and carbon steel at elevated temperatures exhibit a low proportionality limit in relation to the ultimate strength and extensive strain-hardening capacity. The aim of the research is to develop an approach for general use with metals exhibiting non-linear stress-strain relationships. The research includes an extensive testing programm on stiffened and unstiffened elements (aluminium, stainless and carbon steel) subjected to in-plane compression and bending. In addition stub column tests are performed.
• Application and Fire Behaviour of Intumescent Coatings:
  Intumescent coatings applied like paint to structural materials creates a highly effective thermal barrier for fire. The aim of the research project is to enlarge the theoretical and experimental background of the fire behavior of intumescent coatings and to develope a design model for the calculation of the fire resistance of steel section.
• Fire Behaviour of Timber Slabs and Timber Surfaces with Perforations:
  The research project looks at the design methods for timber floors for a fire resistance of 60 and more minutes. Further the influence of perforations on the fire performance of timber structures was also studied. The results form a basis for a reconsideration of the use of timber in multi-storey buildings.
• A Probabilistic Method for Fire Risk Assessment:
  The main objective of this project is to develop a fire risk assessment framework, which takes into account both risks associated with property damage and risks associated with injuries and fatalities. A generic model is developed, taking into account fire relevant parameters such as fire load, ventilation, etc. The causal interrelations are modelled with Bayesian networks. The generic model is used for the calibration of already existing fire risk assessment frameworks e.g. the Swiss SIA Documentation 81.
• Novel Shear Rib Connectors with Powder Actuated Fasteners:
  Shear connection is governing the load-bearing behaviour of composite beams as well as the cost and the feasibility of creation under bad weather conditions. It is the aim of the research project to develop novel shear connectors as an alternative to welded headed stud connector for composite beams. To analyse their behaviour and to develop structural models for their design.
• Failure Consequences and Reliability Acceptance Criteria for Exceptional Building Structures:
  This project is concerned with the derivation of optimal risk acceptance criteria for the design of extraordinary building structures.

Some details on my research work:

• Interests: Steel, Composite steel and concrete and timber structures, fire safety science.
• Keywords: Steel, composite, fire safety, timber.

Publications 2004 - 2012

Publications before 2004

Research Reports

• Klippel M., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Umbau Dock B am Flughafen Zürich - Belastungsversuche an Holorib-Blechverbunddecken - Versuchsbericht mit Auswertung"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 325, ISBN 978-3-7281-3344-1, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, April 2010.
• Niederegger P., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Versuche an dreiseitig gelenkig gelagerten Querschnittselementen aus Metallen mit nichtlinearem Materialverhalten"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 306, ISBN 978-3-7281-3179-9, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, Oktober 2007.
• Schleifer V., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Experimentelle Untersuchungen zum Brandverhalten von Plattenelementen"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 302, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, May 2007.
• Erchinger C., Fontana M., Mischler A., Frangi A.:
  "Versuche an mehrschnittigen Stahl-Holz-Stabdübelverbindungen und Rillennagelverbindungen bei Raumtemperatur und Normbrandbedingungen"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 293, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, February 2006.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Bending tests on FRP reinforced glulam beams"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK testing report, August 2005.
• Schleifer V., Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Brandversuche an vorgesetzten Holzfassaden"
  (Experimental large scale tests on timber facades under natural fire conditions)
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK testing report, October 2004.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Experimentelle Untersuchungen zum statischen Tragverhalten am Fahrbahn-übergangssystem TENSA-FlexFinger"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK testing report, August 2004.
• Faber M.H., Kübler O., Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Failure Consequences and Reliability Acceptance Criteria for Exceptional Building Structures"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 285, ISBN 3-7281-2976-3, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, July 2004.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Untersuchungen zum Brandverhalten von Holzdecken aus Hohlkastenelementen"
  Institute of Structural Engineering, ETH Zürich, IBK-report No. 283, vdf Hochschulverlag AG, April 2004.

Scientific Journal Papers

• Knobloch M., Somaini D., Pauli J., Fontana M.:
  "Numerical analysis and comparative study of the cross-sectional capacity of structural steel members in fire"
  Journal of Structural Fire Engineering 2012, 3(1): 19-35. ISSN 2040-2317
• Klippel M., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  “Influence of the Adhesive on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Glued Laminated Timber Members in Fire”
  Fire Safety Science 2011 (IAFSS), June 19-24, University of Maryland, USA.
• Klingsch E., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "High- and Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete: A Systematic Experimental Analysis on Spalling"
  American Concrete Institute (ACI) SP-279 Innovations in Fire Design of Concrete Structures (CD-ROM) edited by Venkatesh Kodur, 2011
• Ave T., Ohtsuka T., Shibata S., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Buckling behavior of cruciform section steel stub column at high temperatures"
  Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering (Transactions of Architectural Institute of Japan) 2011; 76(2).
• Mensinger M., Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  “Entwicklung eines multifunktionalen Deckensystems mit erhöhter Ressourceneffizienz”
  Stahlbau 2010; 79: 282–297, DOI: 10.1002/stab.201001320.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  “Fire safety of multistorey timber buildings”
  Structures and Buildings 2010; 163: 213–226, DOI: 10.1680/stbu.2010.163.4.213.
• Erchinger C., Frangi A., Fontana M:
  “Fire design of steel-to-timber dowelled connections”
  Engineering Structures 2010; 32: 580–589. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2009.11.
• Klingsch E., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  “Experimental analysis of concrete strength at high temperatures and after cooling”
  Acta Polytechnica – Journal of Advanced Engineering (CTU) 2009; 49: 34-38.
• Niederegger P., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Analytical calculation model for unstiffened elements with nonlinear stress-strain relationships under uniform compression"
  Steel Construction - Design and Research 2009; 2(1): 42-49, DOI: 10.1002/steco.200910007.
• Frangi A., Erchinger E., Fontana M.:
  "Charring model for timber frame floor assemblies with void cavities"
  Fire Safety Journal 2008; 43: 551–564, DOI:10.1016/j.firesaf.2007.12.009.
• Klein J., Köhler J., Fontana M.
  "Die Erhebung von Brandlasten in 95 Industrie und Gewerbebauten"
  Bauphysik 2006; 28(6): 360-367, Ernst & Sohn Verlag, Berlin.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Dehnungsabhängige Berechnung vierseitig gelagerter Querschnittselemente unter Druckbeanspruchung im Brandfall"
  Stahlbau 2007; 76(8): 521-529, DOI: 10.1002/stab.200710054.
• Frangi A., Tesar C., Fontana M.:
  "Tragwiderstand von Betonbauteilen nach dem Brand"
  Bauphysik 2006; 28: 170-183, Ernst & Sohn Verlag, Berlin.
• Frangi A., Tesar C., Fontana M.:
  "Tragverhalten von Betonkonstruktionen nach dem Brand"
  Der Bauingenieur 2006; 2, Springer Science+Business Media Schweiz AG.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Strain-based approach to local buckling of steel sections subjected to fire"
  Journal of Constructional Steel Research 2006; 62(1-2): 44-67.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Bemessung von Holzdecken aus Hohlkastenelementen im Brandfall"
  (A design model for the fire resistance of hollow core slabs made of wood)
  Bauphysik 2005; 27(4), Ernst & Sohn Verlag, Berlin.
• Steiger R., Fontana M.:
  "Bending moment and axial force interacting on solid timber beams"
  Materials and Structures 2005; 38: 507-513.
• Frangi A., Fontana M., Schleifer V.:
  "Fire behaviour of timber surfaces with perforations"
  Fire and Materials 2005; 29(3), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Brandverhalten von Hohlkastendecken aus Holz"
  (Fire performance of hollow core slabs made of wood)
  Bauphysik 2005; 27(1), Ernst & Sohn Verlag, Berlin.
• Frangi A., Fontana M., Mischler A.:
  "Shear behaviour of bond lines in glued laminated timber beams at high temperatures"
  Wood Science and Technology 2004; 38(2), Springer Verlag, Berlin.
• Blümel S., Fontana M.:
  "Load-bearing and deformation of truss joints using thin-walled pentagon cross-sections"
  Thin-Walled Strictures 2004; 42(2): 295-307, Elsevier Ltd.

Conference Papers

• Klingsch E., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Fire Protection of Concrete Structures"
  Proceedings of the Third international workshop on performance, protection and strengthening of structures under extreme loading, PROTECT 2011, August 30 - September 1, 2011, Lugano, Switzerland.
• Fischer K, Virguez-Rodriguez E., Sanchez-Silva M., Faber M.H.:
  "Defining guidelines for the application of the marginal life saving costs principle for risk regulation“
  Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Application of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, ICASP11, August 1-4, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland.
• De Sanctis G., Fischer K., Kohler J., Fontana M., Faber M. H.:
  "A probabilistic framework for generic fire risk assessment and risk-based decision making in buildings"
  Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Application of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, ICASP11, August 1-4, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland.
• Knobloch M., Klippel M., Fontana M.:
  "Longitudinal shear capacity of steel deck concrete composite slabs after 35 years in service - In situ tests at Zurich Airport"
  Proceedings of the First Middle East Conference on Smart Monitoring, Assessment and Rehabilitation of Civil Structures, February 8-10, 2011, Dubai, UAE.
• Frangi A., Fontana M., Hugi E., Wiederkehr R.:
  “Fire safety of multi-storey timber buildings”
  Proceedings of the 11th World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), June 20-24, 2010, Riva del Garda, Trentino, Italy.
• Frangi A., Schleifer V., Fontana M., Hugi E.:
  “Design method for the separating function of timber structures”
  Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Structures in Fire, June 2-4, 2010, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
• Frangi A., Fontana M., Mensinger M.:
  “Design of composite slab system with integrated installation floor”
  Proceedings of the International Conference on “Highrise Towers and Tall Buildings 2010 - Design and Construction of Safe and Sustainable Highrise Structures”, April 14-16, 2010, Technical University Munich, Germany.
• Knobloch M., Somaini D., Pauli J., Fontana M.:
  "Stability of steel columns subjected to fire"
  Proceedings of the International Colloquium Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures SDSS, September 8-10, 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Neuenschwander M., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Fire behaviour of concrete filled circular hollow section columns with massive steel core"
  Proceedings of the International Colloquium Stability and Ductility of Steel Structures SDSS, September 8-10, 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Pauli J., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Stub columns tests on square and rectangular hollow steel sections at elevated temperatures"
  Proceedings of the Forth International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, September 6-8, 20010, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Somaini D., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Simplified analytical model for centrically and eccemtrically loaded steel columns in fire"
  Proceedings of the Forth International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, September 6-8, 20010, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Knobloch M., Klippel M., Fontana M.:
  "In situ tests on steel deck concrete composite slabs at Zurich International Airport"
  Proceedings of the 34th IABSE Symposium, September 22-24, 2010, Venice, Italy.
• Klippel M., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "In situ tests on steel deck concrete composite slabs at Zurich International Airport"
  Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Steel & Composite Structures, July 21-23, 2010, Sydney, Australia.
• Klingsch E., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Experimental Analysis on Spalling of High-Strength Concrete”
  Proceedings of the Third fib International Congress and Exhibition, May 29 – June 2, 2010, Washington D.C., USA.
• Knobloch M., Somaini D., Pauli J., Fontana M.:
  "Numerical analysis of the cross-sectional capacity of structural steel members in fire"
  Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Structures in Fire, June 2-4, 2010, East Lansing, USA.
• Somaini D., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Simplified analytical model for global buckling of steel columns in fire"
  Proceedings of the Eighth fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering, June 20-23, 2010, Lyngby, Denmark.
• Pauli J., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "On the local buckling behaviour of steel columns in fire"
  Proceedings of the Eighth fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering, June 20-23, 2010, Lyngby, Denmark.
• Klingsch E., Frangi A., Fontana M.:
  "Experimental Analysis of Concrete Strength at high temperatures and after cooling”
  Proceedings of Applications of Structural Fire Engineering, February 19-20, 2009, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "On the interaction of global and local buckling of square hollow sections in fire"
  Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures CIMS2008, June 23-25, 2008, Sydney, Australia, pp. 587-594.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "On the load-carrying behaviour of stiffened elements with non-uniform temperature distribution in fire"
  Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, June 18-20, 2008, Gold Cost, Australia, pp. 697-704.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Fire resistance of steel beam-columns subjected axial compression and bi-axial bending with non-uniform bending moment distribution"
  Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference Structures in Fire, May 28-30, 2008, Singapore, pp. 56-67.
• Fontana M.:
  "Building - Fires"
  Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, September 10-12, 2007, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Baertschi R., Fontana M.:
  "Composite Beams in Partial Shear Connection"
  Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, September 10-12, 2007, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Compression strength of stiffened elements in fire"
  Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, September 10-12, 2007, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Fontana M., Raveglia E., Knobloch M.:
  "Partial loss of fire protection and structural collapse of high-rise buildings"
  Proceedings of the International Congress "Fire safety in tall buildings", October 18-20, 2006, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
• Fontana M., Niederegger P., Knobloch M.:
  "Elements with nonlinear stress-strain relationships subjected to local buckling"
  Proceedings of the ICMS 2006 Conference, September 20-22, 2006, Poiana Brasov, Rumania.
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Load-carrying behavior of unstiffened elements at elevated temperatures in fire"
  Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), September 18-23, 2005, Beijing, China.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Fire Performance of Timber Structures under Natural Fire Conditions"
  Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), September 18-23, 2005, Beijing, China.
• Fontana M, Knobloch M.:
  "Local buckling behaviour under fire conditions"
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on “Structures and Extreme Events”, September 14-17, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 268ff.
• Fontana M., Frangi A., Schleifer V.:
  "Fire behaviour of light timber frame wall assemlies"
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on “Structures and Extreme Events”, September 14-17, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 296ff.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Fire performance based design of multi-storey timber buildings "
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on “Structures and Extreme Events”, September 14-17, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 294ff.
• Fontana M.:
  "Fire in buildings "
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on “Structures and Extreme Events”, September 14-17, 2005, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 56ff.
• Fontana M., Anderheggen E., Tesar C.:
  "Numerical Modeling of Composite Floor Slabs In Fire"
  Proceedings of the ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering, July 12-15, 2005, Cancun, Mexico.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Brandschutzkonzepte - Wie finde ich zweckmässige Lösungen für mein Projekt?"
  SZS 2005 steelevent, Tagung zum Thema „Brandschutz im Stahlbau: Neue Normen – neue Lösungen“, June 23, 2005 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Steel sections subjected to local buckling and fire"
  Proceedings of the 1st International PhD Workshop on Fire Safety Science and Engineering, June 8, 2005, Hannover, Germany, pp. 9 - 24.
• Fontana M., Dazio A., Buzzini D.:
  "Progressive Collapse of Buildings after Failure of a Story"
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on Metropolitan Habitats and Infrastructure, September 22-24, 2004, Shanghai, China, IABSE Report Vol. 88, ISBN 3-85748-110-2, pp. 418f.
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Fire resistance of steel columns with partial loss of fire protection"
  Proceedings of the IABSE Symposium on Metropolitan Habitats and Infrastructure, September 22-24, 2004, Shanghai, China, IABSE Report Vol. 88, ISBN 3-85748-110-2, pp. 352f.
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Load-carrying Behaviour of Thin-Walled Steel Sections subjected to Fire"
  Progress in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, July 5-7, 2004 Cape Town, SA, ISBN 90-5809-568-1, pp. 1435 - 1450.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Effect of temperature on the structural behaviour of bond lines in glulam"
  Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Advanced Timber and Timber-Composite Elements for Buildings, Conference Report, COST Action E-29, October 27-29, 2004, Florence, Italy.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Fire behaviour of timber slabs with perforations"
  Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Advanced Timber and Timber-Composite Elements for Buildings, Conference Report, COST Action E-29, October 27-29, 2004, Florence, Italy.
• Fontana M., Frangi A.:
  "Fire safety concepts for buildings"
  Proceedings of the Meeting on "Timber and sustainable architecture", October 15, 2004, SAIE 2004, Bologna, Italy.
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Local buckling behaviour and strain-based effective widths of steel structures subjected to fire"
  Structures in Fire, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop, September 26-29, 2004, Ottawa, Canada, pp. 71 - 88.

Other Publications

• Neuenschwander M., Knobloch M., Fontana M.:
  "Numerische Modellierung des Tragverhaltens von betongefüllten Hohlprofilstützen mit Stahlkern unter ISO-Normbrandeinwirkung"
  Festschrift Gerhard Hanswille, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Institut für Konstruktiven Ingenieurbau, Heft 20, S. 353-362, 2011.
• Fontana M.:
  "Das neue Konzept der schweizerischen Brandschutznormen"
  VDI Bericht 2126; 14. VDI-Fachtagung Baulicher und Gebäudetechnischer Brandschutz: Bonn, 29. und 30. November 2011 / VDI, Bauen und Gebäudetechnik
• Fontana M., Knobloch M.:
  "Brandschutzforschung und -praxis in der Schweiz"
  J. Lange (Hg.), Brandsicher bauen mit sichtbarem Stahl, Darmstadt, Germany, 4-5 June 2008, pp. 135-157.
• Fontana M.:
  "Holz und Nachhaltigkeit - Lebenszyklus eines Bauwerks"
  Holzforschung Schweiz, Bulletin Kompetenz-Zentrum Holz des ETH Bereichs SAH, Dübendorf, ISSN 1420-0317, 11 Jg., Heft 2, November 2003, pp. 8 - 9.
• Fontana M.:
  "Konstruktion und Bemessung von Verbindungen für den Brandfall"
  "Zuschnitt" Zeitschrift über Holz als Werkstoff und Werke in Holz, proHolz Austria, Graz, Heft Nr. 11, September 2003, pp. 24 - 25.
• Fontana M.
  "Neue Modelle entwickelt"
  ETHLife, Zürich, 11.9.2003

Commitees

• SIA Kommission 264 Verbundbau
• ECCS TC3 Fire Safety
• Eidgenössische Bauprodukte Kommission (Vizepräsident)
• International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (Vice-President)
• International Association of Fire Safety Science
• Eidgenössische Bauproduktekommission (Swiss Federal Comission on Building Products) Vizepräsident
• Technische Kommission VKF (Vereinigung Kantonaler Feuerversicherungen)

Curriculum vitae / Personal data