Environmental Geomechanics

Research focus

The Peer review has evaluated this group as Excellent

The research group develops the theoretical study, the experimental testing and the numerical modelling of soils and rocks subject to environmental loads. The research activity is finally aimed at enhancing the methodologies for the analysis and monitoring the environmental hazard, and at proposing innovative design and constructions solutions for the environment protection. The research topic is developed through different activities, which may be classified as follows: a) Laboratory experimental study of soils and rocks subjected to environmental loads; b) Developments of conceptual models for constitutive behaviour and coupled transport phenomena; c) Analysis of geotechnical problems on large areas: slope stability, tunnelling, mining, embankments construction, tailing dams and waste disposals facilities; d) In situ monitoring of soils and rocks subjected to environmental loading. The first two activities stem from previous studies developed in a rather independent way by the researchers forming the group. These fundamental activities focus on the development of new laboratory equipments and laboratory procedures to perform laboratory tests on geomaterials under mechanical and environmental loading. Typically drying/wetting cycles, freezing/thawing cycles, thermal variations, chemical and electro-chemical processes are analysed, and their influence on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of soils and rocks is studied. Conceptual models are developed to describe the hydro-mechanical behaviour of soils under environmental loading. Numerical tools, namely finite element and distinct element codes, are developed for the analysis of boundary value problems involving different coupled fields, i.e. mechanical, hydraulic, thermal and electrochemical. The second two activities, which finally represent the aim of the research subject, started more recently and are supported by different contracts from public and private sources. Part of the activity is developed together with research groups from other Italian and European universities, for instance Università di Milano Bicocca, Università di Perugia, ETH Zuerich, UPC Barcelona. Slope movements of different types, from shallow submerged landslides, rainfall induced landslides, flow slides and large landslides are analysed. Road, railway and river embankments are analysed with the double aim of verifying their optimal working conditions and of proposing new construction procedures to improve their performance. Tunnelling and mining operations are analysed in view of their environmental impact. Rock viscosity and degradation, chemical attack, blasting vibrations are being modelled to predict ground movements and possible unstable conditions. Part of the research is devoted to the mechanical behaviour of sludges, tailings and to natural or engineered compacted soil liners for hazard assessment. Monitoring systems for soils subject to environmental loading are developed. The experimental data are back-analysed numerically, in order to provide their rational and reliable interpretation. Statistical approaches for the elaboration of field data and the analysis of spatial and temporal variability are under development.

Dipartimento di afferenza

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale (DIS)

Docenti afferenti

Full Professors
Claudio di Prisco
Roberto Nova
Associate Professors
Francesco Calvetti
Cristina Jommi
Anna Pandolfi
Assistant Professors
Riccardo Castellanza
Donatella Sterpi