
Prof. Eng. Nicola Moraci, Ph.D
LMNS LECTURE – Suitable design approaches for the different interfaces including geosynthetics in different loading and flow conditions
BIOGRAPHY:
Full Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria where he was Pro-Rector for Research, Head of the Department of Civil, Energy, Environmental and Materials Engineering; Member of the Academic Senate; Member of the Board of Administrators; Coordinator of the Doctorate in Geotechnical Engineering. He has been Tutor of 22 PhD theses in Geotechnical Engineering. He was President of the Italian Geotechnical Society (AGI) (2015-2022). The research activity has developed along multiple themes including landslides and landslide risk mitigation, use of geosynthetics in civil and environmental works, controlled landfills and remediation of contaminated sites, soil reinforcement, protective filters, innovative technologies and materials, sustainable geotechnical works. The research activity has led to the editing of more than 250 papers mostly published in important international journals and international and national conferences. He has received awards for research activities, including the IGS (International Geosynthetics Society) Award 2008, the Best Paper Awards from the Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal (2017) and from the Geosynthetics International Journals (2022). He is currently Associate Editor of the Geotextiles and Geomembranes Journal, and Member of the Editorial Board of others important international Journals. He has been scientific director of numerous research projects funded on the basis of competitive calls for bids that provide for peer review. He has been invited lecturer at several International and National Conferences, as well as a member of Scientific and Organization Committees of several International and National Conferences. He has been a member of numerous Technical and Scientific Committees for the ISSMGE, the CEN, the IGS, the Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection of Italy, and the AGI.
ABSTRACT:
The topic I would like to develop in the LMNS Lecture aims to systematically integrate the findings from my years of research, with a particular emphasis on studies regarding the interaction between various interfaces where geosynthetics are employed to serve different functions. This pertains to the ultimate or serviceability limit states of the structures in which they are used, under different loading or flow conditions.
Given the limited time available, I plan to focus on the importance of proper interface characterization concerning the design of reinforced earthworks, landfill cover systems and drainage systems in earthworks or slopes. Specifically, the research I carried out, which I will summarize in the Lecture and has been the subject of several scientific publications and international awards, has helped to clarify the approaches to be considered for:
- the correct characterization of the soil-geosynthetic interface in geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures under static and cyclic conditions, both in the short and long term. Clear guidance is provided for the correct selection of materials and interface parameters necessary for designing structures under ultimate and serviceability limit state conditions.
- the correct characterization of the interface between different geosynthetics in landfill cover systems under static and seismic loading conditions. In this context, the roles played by low contact stresses, mechanical damage due to high relative displacements and the presence of interstitial fluid at the interface are highlighted.
- the proper evaluation of the limit states of soil/geotextile filter interface in contact with internally stable and unstable granular soils under different flow conditions (unidirectional or alternating flow), while highlighting the limitations of the approaches generally used for both the characterization of interacting materials and the design of filters. These findings enabled the development of a new approach for the design of geotextile filters in contact with internally stable and unstable cohesionless soils and the development of a procedure useful in geotextile filter design under critical/severe conditions.