Ricerc@Sapienza

In the mechanized excavation of tunnels with Tunnel Boring Machines, an ever more frequently used technique worldwide is the Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) technology; during the excavation phases this technology requires continuous injection of chemicals under the form of foam to be mixed with the excavated soil.
Since the features of the foam influence significantly the excavation performances and the propagation of induced effects such as settlements in the environment, the studies of the parameters affecting the quality of the foam have great importance for practical purposes.

The construction of a new underground metro line is being undertaken in thehistorical city centre of Rome. As part of the project, two tunnels will be excavated for a

The city of Rome is upgrading its public transportation network with the construction of the 3rd underground railway line. The Line C of Rome underground crosses the historic city centre with significant interferences with existing monuments and buildings of historic value. As a consequence, protective measures are needed to prevent damage to the most sensitive structures.

The use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and particularly the Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) technology is one of the most commonly used way to perform mechanized tunnel excavation. The possibility to perform the excavation with high performance, avoiding risk for workers and reducing the induced subsidence, particularly important in urban area, are the main reason of the growing of this technology.

Classical approaches to soil-structure interaction are often characterised by relatively simple constitutive assumptions for either one or both components of the problem. Such simplified assumptions prove to be appropriate for simple soil-foundation cases, while showing all their limits when tackling more complex problems, as those involving excavation in the vicinity or beneath historical masonry structures.