The Geotechnical Engineering Group of the University of Trento was constituted in 1990 when Prof. Mongiovì moved to Trento from the Second University of Rome "Tor Vergata".  Two years later, he created the Geotechnical Laboratory together with A. Gajo (appointed Assistant Professor in 1992), L. Piffer (she worked as graduate research assistant from 1992 to 1996) and M. Bragagna (technician of the geotechnical laboratory since 1992).

To date, the team includes a Full Professor (L. Mongiovì), an Associate Professor (A. Gajo), an Assistant Professor (G. Bosco), two Research Fellows (Dr. L. Simeoni and Dr. A. Tarantino), three PhD Student (M. Boso, A. Buscemi and A. Ragusa), a Senior Technician (M. Bragagna),  an Undergraduate Research Assistant (E. De Col) and one external collaborator (Eng. R. Ress).

Research activity is mainly funded through research contracts and consulting activity. Projects currently underway or recently completed are:
1) 'Reliability of stability analysis methods of earth dams', Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, total funding: 64.500 Euro, [L. Mongiovì].
2) 'Movements monitoring of a slide in Castelrotto area (BZ)', Autostrada del Brennero, total funding: 232.400 Euro, [L. Mongiovì].
3) 'Remedial measures of a slope near Rio Paglia at Castel Valer (TN)', Provincia Autonoma di Trento, total funding 20.600 Euro, [L. Mongiovì].

The research and consulting activities are supported by the Geotechnical Laboratory. It is equipped with conventional equipment for saturated soil testing (oedometers, shear boxes, and triaxial cells) and state-of-the-art equipment for unsaturated soil testing. These includes high suction tensiometers (manufactured by the Laboratory), psychrometers, shear boxes with direct measurement of suction, an oedometer with osmotic control of suction, a system for quick detemination of soil water retention curve,  an apparatus for investigating stress stress variables for unsaturated soils.The Laboratory is also specialised in field monitoring of landslides. It is equipped with inclinometers, spiralometers, and water level sensors.

The research activity of the group covers basic aspects of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of soils (theoretical and experimental) as well as aspects related to engineering practice.

(i) Experimental analysis of the mechanical behaviour of sand. Constitutive modeling of soil behaviour. Strain localization in elastoplasticity. Electro-chemo mechanical and thermo-idro-mechanical coupling in porous media [A. Gajo].

(ii) Experimental analysis of the stress state variables for unsaturated soils. Experimental techniques for direct measurement of pore pressure in unsaturated soils (tensiometer). Experimental techniques for indirect measurement of soil suction (filter paper, psychrometer). Numerical modeling of effects of infiltration on slope stability. Effects of vegetation on slope stability [A. Tarantino, L. Mongiovì, M. Boso, A. Buscemi, E. De Col, M. Bragagna].

(iii) Analysis and prediction of landslide movements. In-situ inclinometers data control. Time series models for landslide movements. Physical-mathematical modeling of landslide evolution. Geotechnical characterization of lacustrine clays [L. Simeoni, L. Mongiovì, M. Bragagna].

(iv) Micro-mechanics of granular materials, contact mechanics. Slope stability analysis and remedial measures. Reinforced earth structures and tests on geotextiles [L. Mongiovì].
 
 
 
 
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