MAIN RESEARCH TOPICS

Earth retaining structures, deep excavations and tunnelling

• seismic behaviour and performance-based design of reinforced-earth retaining structures

• capacity design of retaining structures and bridge abutments founded on piles

• effects induced by deep open excavations and tunnelling on existing structures and massive historical buildings

• reduction of tunnelling-induced ground movements via pre-installed diaphragm walls

• reduction of ground movements induced by deep open excavations using: (i) pre-installed piles at dredge line; (ii) pre-installed soil improvement in front of the wall; (iii) sacrificial cross-walls and buttress-walls pre-installed inside the excavation area

• evaluation of compensation grouting efficiency through laboratory tests on large samples

Slopes and earth dams

• evaluation of seismic stability and performance of slopes and earth dams

• slope stabilisation using gravity trench drains or sub-horizontal tubular drains

• slope stabilisation through infinite o finite barriers made by embedded adjacent piles

Foundations

• seismic behaviour of caisson foundations of bridge piers

• interaction domains of caisson foundations of bridge piers

• back-analysis of instrumented full-scale structures such as: (i) deep open excavations; (ii) tunnels; (iii) piled foundations; (iv) oil tanks founded on stabilised columns

Mechanical soil behaviour

• experimental behaviour of stiff and overconsolidated clays:

  • effects of weathering and swelling on shear strength and compressibility parameters;

  • measurement of small-strain stiffness and evaluation of its dependence on stress state and history with reference to soil-structure interaction under static and seismic conditions;

  • influence of microstructure on the mechanical behaviour of natural clays with reference to constitutive modelling of soil behaviour

Geotechnical caracterisation of soil deposits

• characterisation and engineering properties of natural fine-grained deposits and related geotechnical problems

• mechanical characterisation of the foundation soils of the Tower of Pisa in the framework of the critical state soil mechanics

• comparison between predicted and observed subsidence of the clayey soils of a mining landfill 

• characterisation of soil columns treated via deep mixing by on-site and laboratory tests

Roles in main research projects

• Research project of major interest, PRIN n. 2017 YPMBWJ on Risk Assessment of Earth Dams and River Embankments to Earthquakes and Floods (REDREEF), funded by the Italian Ministry of Education University and Research (MIUR) – Coordinator of the Research unity of Rome La Sapienza.

• Research project funded by the University of Rome La Sapienza (Large projects 2016)) on Prevention of damage induced by tunnelling and deep excavation to historical buildings – Research coordinator.

• Department of Civil Protection (DPC) – Network of University Laboratories of Seismic Engineering (RELUIS) 2017-2020: Framework agreement on Vulnerability and Seismic Risk – National coordinator of Working Package 2 – Slope stability.

• Department of Civil Protection (DPC) – Network of University Laboratories of Seismic Engineering (RELUIS) 2014-2016: Framework agreement on Vulnerability and Seismic Risk – National coordinator of Working Package 2 – Earth Dams.

• DPC – RELUIS 2010-2013: Technological and normative innovations in seismic engineering – National coordinator of Macro-theme MT3 – Retaining Structures.

• DPC – RELUIS 2005-2008: Innovative procedures for seismic design of retaining structures and evaluation of slope stability – National coordinator of Research Line 6.3 – Slope Stability.

• Research projects of relevant national interest (15), research project funded by the European Community (1), research contracts of relevant economical support (12).