Public outreach
The main Third Mission activities carried out by the department include:
- research, high quality testing services to the public, Universities, and private companies, consultancy
- spin offs and start-ups
- patents, technological transfer with industry
- public engagement with the local territory; disseminate the results of research on dedicated platforms; outreach to schools
Selected current projects with a societal impact
IRIS - The NATO-funded project for the Inspection, maintenance and security pursued by innovative Robots, enhanced data communication and Infrastructure digital twinS. team partners include Dr. Amine Bendarma, Universiapolis - International University (Agadir, Morocco), Prof. Pasquale Daponte, University of Sannio (Benevento, Italy), Prof. Erika Ottaviano, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Cassino, Italy), Prof. Zdenek Dvorak, University of Zilina (Zilina, Slovakia), and Lt. Col. Konrad Wojtowicz, Military University of Technology (Warsaw, Poland).
- Coordinataor: Prof. Vincenzo Gattulli
AFOSR/EOARD Grant - A High Damping Cellular Material with Integrated Arrays of Nanocomposite Web-like Vibration Absorbers (N. FA8655-20-1-7025, 2020-2023). The project takes inspiration from nature to realize a metamaterial exhibiting the highest possible energy dissipation across a wide frequency/wavelength bandwith. It mimicks the lightweight, strong and periodic features of a honeycomb hosting in its cells resonators in the shape of superlight and reilient spider webs. Its fabrication principles make use of a combination of 3D printing and electrospinning processes. The team includes experts from different fields: Dr. Giulia Lanzara (co-PI) and Prof. Giovanni Formica from University of RomaTre; Dr. Andrea Arena, Dr. Mauro Murer, and Dr. Alessandro Fortunati from Sapienza University of Rome; Prof. Andrea Bacigalupo and Prof. Marco Lepidi from University of Genoa.
- Coordinator: Prof. Walter Lacarbonara
DESDEMONA – DEtection of Steel Defects by Enhanced MONitoring and Automated procedure for self-inspection and maintenance is a three-years research project in EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel 2017. The project involves frou courntires, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. Desdemona aims to develop novel design methods, systems, procedures and technical solutions to integrate sensing and automation technologies for self-inspection and self-monitoring of steel structures.
- Programme Coordinator: Prof. Vincenzo Gattulli, PI.
The Department is also successful in attracting international financing, such as the Getty Institute, Los Angeles, funding for the preservation plan for the Flaminio Stadium, designed by architect Nervi and inaugurated in 1959.
- Coordinator: Prof. Francesco Romeo.
Polytec Scanning Vibrometer 500-3d-H : Wide-Range Laser Scanning Station For 3d Shape Reconstruction And Dynamic Measurements.
The project is part of Sapienza's infrastructural strategy is to create a technological platform to support business, share technology resources and skills, collaborate and support growth, and update and internationalise processes with a strong multidisciplinary vocation, as established by the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) and the National Industry Plan 4.0.
- Research Director: Prof Walter Lacarbonara
Seminars and Conferences
Disg also promotes seminars and conferences with an international impact. Currently these are being held online though the ZOOM platform or Google Meet recently made available by Sapienza. The department recently opened an account on the ZOOM platform and in addition to the basic features can now host video conferences with up to 300 participants with online streaming on YouTube.
A series of five lectures on the Mechanical Morphing of Active Gels was held every Friday from 13 November to 11 December 2020, involving worldwide participants and lectures of international repute.
Coordinator: Prof. Paola Nardinocchi
Englobed within the department's PhD course in Structural and geotechinical engineering, coordinated by Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci, an online lecture was given by Prof. Fabio Brancaleone. He briefly described the main features of the former Morandi Bridge, followed by an indepth illustration of the new S. Giorgio bridge in Genova, designed by architect Renzo Piano.
Coordinator: Prof. Patrizia Trovalusci
NODYCON 2021, originally planned to be held in Rome, February 16-19, 2021, will now be hosted as a virtual online conference on the planned dates to overcome the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 crisis. The in-person NODYCON conference is postponed to June 2022 and updates will be posted here. The NODYCON 2021 online conference will feature keynotes/webinars of broad interest, round tables, workshops, and oral presentations covering recent advances in the rich spectrum of topics covered by NONLINEAR DYNAMICS, including new frontiers and challenges such as nonlinear dynamics, control and perspectives of the COVID-19 pandemic. The full-length indexed papers will be published by Springer Nature.
Chair: Prof. Walter Lacarbonara
Spin-offs and start-ups
A successful spin-off of DISG is DIAMONDS, together with freelancers specialised in structures and Evoelectronics s.r.l., an industrial partner specialized in the development and integration of monitoring tools. The main objective is to offer an integrated system of services for diagnostics and structural monitoring, applying innovative systems developed in the context of university research.
DIAMONDS is now a successful private company.
GEEG (Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Group), is an innovative DISG start-up, was born from the desire to make the knowledge acquired in years of experimental research in the field of mechanized tunnel excavation and subsequent management of excavated earth and rocks. The services offered are aimed at verifying and comparing the characteristics of different chemical products, managing the conditioning and reuse of the conditioned soil through experimental procedures and specially developed protocols.
Member of international and national standard's committees
In addition to participation in a wide numer of research centres, DISG, through its members is active on national and international technical and regulatory committees including those of the Higher Council of Public Works, UNI (National Standardization Body), FIB (International Federation for Structural Concrete), CEN (European committee for standardization) and in many national and international scientific associations (including, ANIDIS, AIMETA, AGI, SSA, ASME, ASCE, ISSMGE, ISRM).