Description of projects

Candidates can apply to any of the scholarships offered in the call. They should present a short research project for any scholarship they wish to candidate for. However, in case the required scholarship had already been assigned to another candidate, the PhD board is free to offer to the candidate another scholarship, provided he/she has the required basic scientific competences for it.

Offered projects (in the call denoted as “borsa”) from 1 to 3 are open to any proposal of the candidates, provided it falls within the general interests of the PhD programme. Candidates are however invited not to concentrate (or not to only concentrate) on these projects, and to individuate other projects of interest, since it is likely that there will be a large request for “borse” 1-3.

Scholarships from 7 to 13 are reserved to students that were born or are resident in Sicily.

All other scholarships are related to specific projects, in some cases with the cooperation of industrial partners, as indicated in the call. In the following you find a more detailed description of some of these projects:

 

Borsa N*4

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”

 

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Analisi limite delle costruzioni in muratura. Legami costitutivi e omogeneizzazione in campo elastico e ultra-elastico con applicazione allo studio della sicurezza e del collasso di costruzioni: dall’edificio al comparto edilizio alle costruzioni storiche monumentali.

Title of the project

 

Limit analysis of masonry constructions. Constitutive laws and homogenization in elastic and ultra-elastic field with application to the safety and collapse analysis of historical monumental constructions

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°5

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Palermo

 

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Identificazione strutturale, monitoraggio e prevenzione dei rischi per strutture ed infrastrutture

Title of the project

 

Structural identification, monitoring and risk prevention for structures and infrastructures

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°6

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Perugia

 

Title of the project

 

eCO-sustaiNable sTRengthening innOvative materiaLs (CONTROL)

Abstract of the project

 

The research activity aims at developing eco-sustainable materials for structural reinforcement interventions. A new geopolymeric material will be developed, consisting of alkali-based solutions and easily obtainable recycled materials (e.g., metakaolin, brick powder, industrial production waste, ashes from waste-to-energy processes). Experimental tests will be carried out to characterize the mechanical properties of the material and optimize the mix design, ensuring mechanical and chemical performances similar to conventional reinforcement materials. The possibility of using plant fibers (e.g., hemp, broom) to further enhance the performance of the geopolymer will be evaluated. Finally, masonry or reinforced concrete structural components will be designed, constructed, and reinforced using the developed material. The effectiveness and durability of the reinforcement intervention will be assessed through static and/or dynamic experimental tests.

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Materiali innovativi ecosostenibili per il consolidamento strutturale

Descrizione del progetto

 

L’attività di ricerca è volta allo sviluppo di materiali ecosostenibili per interventi di rinforzo strutturale. Verrà sviluppato un nuovo materiale geopolimerico costituito da soluzioni alcaline e materiali di recupero e di facile reperibilità (i.e. metacaolino, polvere di laterizi, scarti di produzione industriale, ceneri provenienti da processi di termovalorizzazione). Saranno effettuate prove sperimentali per caratterizzare le proprietà meccaniche del materiale e ottimizzare il mix design, garantendo performance meccaniche e chimiche simili a quelle dei materiali di rinforzo convenzionali. Sarà valutata la possibilità di utilizzare fibre naturali (e.g. canapa, ginestra) per migliorare ulteriormente le prestazioni del geopolimero. Infine, saranno progettati, realizzati e rinforzati elementi strutturali in muratura o cemento armato utilizzando il materiale sviluppato. L' efficacia e la durabilità dell’intervento di rinforzo saranno valutate attraverso prove sperimentali statiche e/o dinamiche.

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°14

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi G. D’Annunzio di Chieti-Pescara

 

Title of the project

 

Multi-hazard study: A multidisciplinary approach for the seismic risk evaluation

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Studio multi-hazard: un approccio multidisciplinare per la valutazione del rischio sismico.

Multi-hazard study: A multidisciplinary approach for the seismic risk evaluation

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°15

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Ferrara

 

Title of the project

 

Static and dynamic analysis of masonry buildings

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Analisi statica e dinamica di edifici in muratura

Descrizione del progetto

 

Obiettivo principale del progetto è quello di sviluppare procedure numeriche di verifica e progettazione di elementi murari in condizioni statiche estreme o dinamiche (principalmente terremoto). Se, infatti, procedure teorico-numeriche e normative tecniche hanno raggiunto un elevato grado di maturità con riferimento alle strutture in cemento armato e in acciaio, lo stesso non può dirsi nell’analisi statica e dinamica degli edifici murari per i quali è prassi adottare modelli a telaio equivalente semplificati, inaffidabili per edifici irregolari. In particolare per gli edifici storici, le procedure oggi prevalentemente adottate portano spesso a risultati inaffidabili.

Il progetto indaga e sviluppa procedure bi- e tri-dimensionali di analisi includendo l’eterogeneità del materiale (assemblaggio mattone-malta), e il reale comportamento meccanico guidato dalla nulla resistenza a trazione. Una simulazione più affidabile consentirebbe interventi di ripristino/miglioramento meno invasivi e più eco-sostenibili.

L’azienda partner 2S.I. sviluppa e fornisce il software Pro_sap di calcolo strutturale orientato in particolare agli edifici murari ed è quindi interessata ad ampliarne le potenzialità, in particolare nell’ambito degli edifici storici in muratura.

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

2S.I. Software e Servizi per l’Ingegneria S.r.l.

via Garibaldi, 90 44121 Ferrara (FE)

The PhD candidate will spend a research period of 6 months at:

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal,

Under the supervision of prof. Paulo B. Lourenco

 

Borsa N°16

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the project

 

Ecological Transition of cementitiuous materials based on volcanic Ashes in Building environment (ETNA-Built)

Titolo della ricerca (italiano)

 

Materiali cementizi innovativi a ridotto impatto ambientale per la transizione ecologica del settore delle costruzioni

Descrizione del progetto

 

Il dottorato ricerca ha come oggetto lo studio delle proprietà di materiali cementizi costituiti da innovativi materiali cementizi supplementari (SCM). In particolare, si intende valutare l’utilizzo delle ceneri dell’ETNA come costituente di cementi pozzolanici, calcestruzzi per uso strutturale (cemento e filler), sottofondi stradali. Il candidato verrà dedicato a sperimentazioni volte ad approfondire le prestazioni di calcestruzzi contenenti cementi pozzolanici formulati con ceneri dell’Etna, per quanto riguarda gli aspetti inerenti:

  • Compatibilità additivi fluidificanti, prove di durabilità (carbonatazione, migrazione cloruri, corrosione)
  • Prove meccaniche in scala di laboratorio e scala industriale
  • Valutazione caratteristiche come filler da calcestruzzo (aggiunta tipo 2)
  • Progettazione mix design
  • Valutazione tematiche di LCC, LCA
  • Valutazione aspetti autorizzativi ambientali
  • Realizzazione prototipi ed eventuale mock-up

 

It is required a period of 6-18 months of training in the associated enterprise

 

Buzzi SpA. (Vercelli)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°17

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the research

 

Proposals for future settlements on Moon and Mars based on active protection systems against cosmic rays: domes and glass components

Titolo della ricerca (Italiano)

 

Proposte di futuri insediamenti abitati sulla Luna e Marte basati su sistemi di protezione attiva ai raggi cosmici con particolare riguardo alla concezione strutturale delle cupole abitate e delle componenti vetrate che caratterizzano il sistema proposto

It is required a period of 6 months of training in the associated enterprise

 

Marco Peroni Ingegneria (Bologna)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°18

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the project

 

Innovative diagnosis systems for structures and infrastructures

Titolo del progetto (Italiano)

 

Diagnostica innovativa per strutture e infrastrutture

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

Teknè srl  (Siracusa)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°19

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the project

 

Green living building and inhabiting: strategies for sustainable urban rigeneration

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Costruire e abitare green: strategie di rigenerazione urbana sostenibile

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

Cammisa Costruzioni (Siracusa)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°20

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the project

 

Discrete Macro Element Modelling and experimental validation for integrated seismic and energy retrofitting of existing buildings  

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

Innovative project consulting  (Catania)

The PhD candidate will spend a research period of 6 months at:

Imperial College, London

Under the supervision of prof. Izzudin

 

Borsa N°21

University where the research will take place

 

Università di Catania

 

Title of the project

 

Ecological walls: circular innovation and certification of precast systems in cardboard

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Tecnologie di pareti ecologiche: innovazione circolare e certificazione di sistemi prefabbricati in cartone ondulato

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

Archicart Area (Giarre - CT)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°22

University where the research will take place

 

Università della Calabria

 

Title of the project

 

Life cycle and predictive maintenance of steel structures employed for the installation of TLC equipment

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Ciclo di vita e manutenzione predittiva delle strutture in acciaio adibite all’installazione di apparecchiature di Telecomunicazione

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

SISEM srl (Cosenza)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°23

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Salerno

 

Title of the project

 

Methodologies, techniques and informative systems for seismic protection, structural health monitoring, participatory management, and enhancement of the resilience of the building system

Abstract of the project

 

The project involves deepening the understanding of Cold Formed Steel profiles and Light Steel Framing construction technology, as well as the methodologies for their calculation, particularly in relation to horizontal actions produced by wind and earthquakes. After a general study of the system and familiarization with the calculation tools available today, the project envisions a detailed study of rigid diaphragms (shear walls and floors) made with LSF walls and Oriented Strand Board (OSB)   or corrugated metal sheet cladding, and the design of full-scale 1:1 sample tests on a shaking table. Finally, special attention may be given to structural health monitoring as a tool for measuring/monitoring vibrations and displacements of the structures during tests and/or during the commissioning phase.

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Metodologie, tecniche, materiale, e sistemi informativi per la protezione sismica, lo structural health monitoring, la gestione partecipata e l’incremento della resilienza del sistema edilizio

Descrizione del progetto

 

Il progetto riguarda l'approfondimento della conoscenza dei profili Cold Formed Steel e della tecnologia costruttiva Light Steel Framing (LSF)  e delle metodologie per il loro calcolo, in particolare, in relazione alle azioni orizzontati prodotte dal vento e dal sisma.
Dopo lo studio generale del sistema e la conoscenza dei strumenti di calcolo oggi a disposizione, si prevede l'approfondimento dello studio dei diaframmi rigidi (pareti a taglio e solai) realizzati con pareti in LSF e rivestimento in Oriented Strand Board (OSB) o lamiere metalliche grecate e la progettazione di prove di campioni in scala 1:1 su piattaforma vibrante.

Infine un'attenzione particolare potrà essere risvolta allo struttural health monitoring, come strumento per la misurazione/monitoraggio durante le prove e/o in fase di collaudo delle vibrazioni e degli spostamenti delle strutture.

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

IRONDOM srl  (Avellino)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Borsa N°24

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Salerno

 

Title of the project

 

Structural monitoring for the management of proactive maintenance plans of the built environment in complex cultural sites

Abstract of the project

 

One of the main challenges in the management of archaeological sites consists in implementing proactive maintenance processes, aimed at anticipating degradation phenomena rather than intervening only following the occurrence of critical issues or damage. The study path is aimed at training high-profile engineers, competent in the design, implementation and management of continuous knowledge acquisition and management processes, essential elements for every proactive maintenance process. The training and research activities will delve into both theoretical and practical aspects, with in situ experiments at the archaeological site of Pompeii.

Specifically, multilevel and multiscalar monitoring methodologies and procedures, predictive analysis methods of degradation phenomena, methodologies for analyzing the behavior of wall structures and innovative static restoration techniques will be examined. The doctoral activities involve the development of interdisciplinary research, involving archaeologists, architects and restorers, and include a period of training and research at international research institutes.

Titolo del progetto (italiano)

 

Monitoraggio strutturale ai fini della gestione di piani di manutenzione proattiva del costruito in siti culturali complessi

Descrizione del progetto

 

Una delle principali sfide nella gestione dei siti archeologici consiste nell'implementare processi di manutenzione proattiva, mirati ad anticipare i fenomeni di degrado anziché intervenire soltanto a seguito del manifestarsi di criticità o danni. Il percorso di studio è finalizzato alla formazione di ingegneri di alto profilo, competenti nella progettazione, implementazione e gestione di processi continui di acquisizione e gestione della conoscenza, elementi essenziali per ogni processo di manutenzione proattiva. Le attività di formazione e di ricerca approfondiranno sia aspetti teorici sia pratici, con sperimentazioni in situ presso il sito archeologico di Pompei.

Nello specifico, saranno esaminate metodologie e procedure di monitoraggio multilivello e multiscalare, metodi di analisi predittiva dei fenomeni di degrado, metodologie di analisi del comportamento delle strutture murarie e tecniche innovative di restauro statico. Le attività del dottorato prevedono lo sviluppo di ricerche interdisciplinari, coinvolgendo archeologi, architetti e restauratori, e includono un periodo di formazione e ricerca presso istituti di ricerca internazionali.

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise:

 

Parco Archeologico di Pompei (Archeological site of Pompei)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Borsa N°25

University where the research will take place

 

Università Politecnica delle Marche

 

Title of the project

 

Towards a time-dependent and behavioural based approach for (multi) risk management and reduction strategies of Built Environments

Abstract of the project

 

Our Built Environments with their users are increasingly prone to risks, also due to climate change, but risk management and reduction strategies do not account for human behaviours nor for exposure conditions varying over time and multi-risk conditions are usually ignored. This project wants to fill these gaps so as to properly evaluate (multi) risk time-depending scenarios, efficiently organize evacuation procedures and plan risk reduction interventions by including users' behaviours in numerical simulations.

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

Hendal Security Management (Martinsicuro - TE)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

 

Borsa N°26

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Cagliari

 

Title of the project

 

Sustainable construction technologies

Descrizione del progetto

 

La ricerca vuole contribuire alla transizione ecologica dell’ambiente costruito affrontando i sei principi del DNSH con l’uso di tecnologie innovative basate sull’uso del Building Information Modeling (BIM). L’obiettivo della ricerca è pertanto lo sviluppo di algoritmi di calcolo, basati su modelli OPEN BIM, che consentano di valutare le diverse componenti ambientali, l’analisi energetica avanzata e la scelta di materiali eco‐compatibili, proponendo piattaforme operative di nuova concezione sviluppate su WEB APPLICATION. Il risultato della ricerca fornirà un aumento della conoscenza in merito alla sostenibilità delle azioni legate alla progettazione degli interventi, fornendo strumenti applicativi per la loro classificazione in conformità ai sei obiettivi del Regolamento Tassonomia.

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

CADLINE software (Caselle PD)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°27

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Cagliari

 

Title of the project

 

Dynamic and modal characterization of historic constructions through innovative experimental techniques based on inversion of artificial neural networks

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Caratterizzazione dinamica e modale di costruzioni storiche attraverso tecniche sperimentali innovative basate sulla inversione di reti neurali artificiali

Descrizione del progetto

 

Il progetto riguarda tematiche di grande interesse per il Paese e per i territori locali perché è finalizzato al monitoraggio continuo in-situ di edifici storici appartenenti al patrimonio architettonico/culturale italiano con la finalità della loro protezione da rischi naturali come quello idrogeologico e sismico. L’utilizzo di strumentazioni all’avanguardia e di tecniche di intelligenza artificiale, implementate per l’interpretazione dei database acquisiti in tempo reale, permetterà di formare figure professionali altamente specializzate nel campo dei monitoraggi strutturali guidati da intelligenza artificiale. Il progetto porterà ad una innovazione dell’impresa con il passaggio da tecniche di sperimentazione e indagine più tradizionali a sistemi innovativi di misura integrati ed automatizzati per il monitoraggio strutturale .

It is required a period of 6-18 months of training in the associated enterprise

 

Secured Solutions (Cagliari)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°28

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Cagliari

 

Title of the project

 

Integration of Remote Sensing and Ground Based techniques for characterization and monitoring of historical constructions in seismic areas

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Integrazione di Tecniche Remote Sensing e Ground-Based per la Caratterizzazione e il Monitoraggio del Costruito Storico in Zone Sismiche

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

Heritage Engineering Geophysics (Cagliari)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°29

University where the research will take place

 

Università KORE di Enna

 

Title of the project

 

Thermal desorption with blend-methane methodology: innovative tools for unsaturated soils regeneration

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Desorbimento termico con metodologia blend metano-idrogeno: strumenti innovativi per la bonifica di suoli insaturi

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

ICARO Ecology – Gela (CL)

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°30

University where the research will take place

 

Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO - Roma

 

Title of the project

 

Nonlinear damage analysis in composite materials for structural safety

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Analisi non lineare del danno in materiali compositi per la sicurezza strutturale

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

Indagini Strutturali S.r.L - Roma

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°31

University where the research will take place

 

Università degli Studi di Brescia

 

Title of the project

 

Management of water scarcity and drought conditions with soil moisture monitoring and precision irrigation

Abstract of the project

 

The candidate will investigate methods for monitoring and assessment of the risk of water stress and droughts for crops  in the Mediterranean and the semi-arid climate. As adaptation measures precision irrigation techniques with drip and subsurface irrigation will be investigated, considering specific crop water requirements

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Gestione delle crisi di siccità e scarsità idrica mediante sistemi di monitoraggio dell’umidità del suolo e di irrigazione di precisione

Descrizione del progetto

 

Verranno studiati criteri per il monitoraggio e la valutazione del rischio di crisi per stress idrico per le colture in ambiente mediterraneo e in ambienti semi-aridi. Tra le misure di adattamento si approfondiranno metodi per l’irrigazione di precisione con sistemi a goccia e subsuperficiale tenendo conto della domanda idrica delle colture.

It is required a period of 6-18 months of training in the associated enterprise

 

Irritec S.p.A.

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

 

Borsa N°32

University where the research will take place

 

Università del Salento

 

Title of the project

 

Investigation on composite materials for use in civil engineering   

 

Absrtact of the project

 

The new challenge of construction market translates into a growing need for works characterized by low costs, low environmental impact, as well as high durability, resilience and structural safety, especially in presence of exceptional events. Due to the durability problems in traditional materials and the requirements of greater speed of execution, in recent decades there has been an exponential development of new materials for structural purposes. Among these, fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and pultruded FRP profiles are taking on a dominant role, with wide applications both in the construction of new buildings and in the restoration of civil infrastructures (bridges, pedestrian walkways, grids, walkable surfaces, stairs, pylons, cooling towers, buildings of various types) even in post-seismic situations. These materials offer, in fact, various advantages such as high resistance, low weight and durability, while ensuring good structural reliability and efficiency in different load conditions, together with their low environmental impact, comparable to that of wood and lower than reinforced concrete. Depending on various structural solutions, this proposal intends to carry out a theoretical/numerical/experimental campaign aimed at the development of optimal mechanical models for the study of the structural behavior of pultruded profiles, considering their high sensitivity to shear deformability, and to problems of local and/or global instability of profiles. A particularly delicate issue to address is that of connections. In a historical and cultural context in which the design of the building is strongly constrained by the rules of design in terms of capacity, we intend to investigate the possibility of creating connections (with pultruded bolts, rivets and nails) that guarantee ductile behavior in phase of damage, considering, at the same time, their mechanical behavior under any cyclic loads.
The high potential of an "optimized design" in terms of material and production process would make it possible to obtain structures and structural elements with a high strength/weight ratio, where a matrix engineering process would confer functionality even in an aggressive environment or in the presence of fire. Among the potential applications, think of the construction of maritime and geotechnical works as well as the structural part of dangerous substance processing plants. In line with the eco-sustainability of the structural works, we also intend to investigate the possibility of reusing disused material for the creation of new construction elements, contemplating the possibility of transforming the pultruded profiles into short fibers to be reused as a dispersed reinforcement phase within composite materials for various engineering applications.
The research activity aims to study the mechanical performance of structures made using pultruded FRP profiles, in order to implement a construction system based on speed of execution and simplicity of design. This system must guarantee, at the same time, adequate performance with respect to the various limit states that a structure may encounter, taking into account the seismicity (at various levels) of the national territory, and the stringent rules in terms of resistance hierarchy.
We want to adopt a multiscale theoretical/numerical approach to the problem, starting from the optimization of the material and geometry of the profiles and their joints, to improve their structural behavior on a global level. All this will be accompanied by an experimental campaign to validate the results. The project idea would encourage the application of innovative high-performance materials, providing advanced mechanical design techniques for various engineering applications, based on the adoption and development of high-performance calculation methods and algorithms capable of reducing the computational burden of generally complex and non-linear in nature. This would, at the same time, allow us to deal in a unified manner with the most typical aspects of the design of more or less complex geometries, with computational analysis. A reliable analysis based on simulations and adequate predictive models would reduce the time and costs of innovation of the product, increasing its safety. The first objective concerns the correct physical interpretation of the phenomenon of local and/or global instability of FRP profiles. To this end, we intend to study the interaction between the local instabilities present in the flanges and in the profile core, as well as their effect on the global mechanical behavior, even in the presence of possible defects. We will then proceed, on a global scale, to optimize the mechanical properties of the elements through a correct definition of the so-called "stacking sequence" of the material in the various parts of the profile. In order to improve the lateral-torsional properties of the profiles, the influence of a possible curvilinear arrangement of the fibers within the matrix in the various layers of the composite will be studied. Regarding the connections, the major problem encountered when dealing with composite profiles is their fragile behavior: following the proposed study, design parameters will emerge suitable for conferring dissipative properties to the structures, making the pultruded technology suitable for applications in seismic areas on the new and existing. At the end of the discussion of the connections, useful guidelines will be provided at the design level regarding the calculation of the behavior factor of pultruded frames, currently missing in the current regulations, such as to streamline any dynamic analyzes of such innovative structures.

Titolo del Progetto (Italiano)

 

Studio di materiali compositi per applicazioni strutturali di ingegneria civile

It is required a period of training in the associated enterprise

 

FibreNET SpA - Udine

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.

 

Borsa N°33

University where the research will take place

 

Politecnico di Torino

 

Title of the project

 

Early detection of structural and safety degradation of critical infrastructure

Abstract of the project

 

The recent collapse of Polcevera bridge in Italy has evidenced the fragility of some engineering masterpieces and, specifically, the critical effects of prestressing cables degradation, with hidden progressive breakage of wires in tendons. This degradation phenomenon is not easily quantifiable due to the substantial inaccessibility of the cables and to the fact that the degradation can be even localized.

This new sensitivity to infrastructure safety has brought attention also on tunnels, where cracking of the internal lining can cause the detachment of concrete blocks with consequent safety hazard. The present PhD scholarship proposal is part of a research line started about 5 years ago aimed at intercepting progressive structural degradation though recording and real-time interpretation with AI techniques of the elastic waves emanated by a single prestressing steel wire breakage in bridges. This is of paramount importance as in a prestressed bridge safety is guaranteed by hundredths of these wires and the detection of a single wire breakage allows for a timely and early individuation of structural degradation before it produces measurable effects at the global structural scale by a traditional monitoring system or visible at bridge inspection.

The research line is currently developed by a staff including 2 Faculty members, 1 technicians, 1 PhD student and 2 undergraduate students. More than a hundred of measurements on real bridges and at Politecnico di Torino MASTRLAB Laboratory has been carried out and several hundredths on real bridges under demolition are foreseen in the next month. Innovative AI models for signals interpretation have been open access published on the journal Computer- Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, that is one of the most important journals in the field

(Q1, Scimago H index 109). The present PhD proposal is aimed at further developing acquisition of experimental results, improvements in data interpretation and extension of the methodology to cracking of concrete in tunnels. Moreover, the cooperation with the Company A.R.CO.S. Engineering cofounding the proposal, is aimed at optimizing the data acquisition system and the deployment of this new technology towards application on real infrastructure prototypes.

It is required a period of 6-18 months of training in the associated enterprise

 

A.R.CO.S. Engineering S.r.l. - Torino.

A 6-months period of research in a foreign university is required.