Search results for "soft rocks"
showing 3 items of 3 documents
A risk assessment proposal for underground cavities in Hard Soils-Soft Rocks
2018
Abstract Underground calcarenite quarries in Marsala (Sicily) have been involved in a number of collapses that have, seriously damaged numerous buildings. The stability conditions were therefore examined in order to assess risk conditions within the historical centre of the town and the surrounding areas, which are subject to urban expansion. Starting with an extensive collection of historical information, the research was carried out through surveys of the cavities, systematic sampling of material, petrographic analysis and geotechnical testing. The results of laboratory tests and in situ investigations provided a geotechnical characterization of both the intact material and the rock mass.…
Rock decay phenomena and collapse processes in the “Latomiae del Paradiso” in Syracuse (Sicily)
2014
The Latomiae (origin: Greek latomia, from laas, las stone plus –tomia tomy ) del Paradiso in Syracuse are Magna Graecia rock quarries, located in the coastal areas of Southern Italy and internationally renowned for their impressive environment. The few historical technical records do not help clarify the events that led to their current configuration since a series of instability phenomena occurred due to decay processes over time. Through a geotechnical back-analysis, this work highlights the failure phenomena, which may have led to the current configuration of the easterly side of the Latomiae del Paradiso. The back-analysis process was carried out by means of numerical modelling, support…
Influence of the behaviour of soft rocks on cliff evolution
2010
Two cases, of evolution of mor phostructure of cliffs in soft rocks like tuff and calcarenite, respectively outcropping in the Cape of Posillipo in Campania and in the Agrigento town and Valley of Tem- ples in Sicily, are analyzed on the basis of mor phologic characteristics of the sites, mesostructural survey and mechanical characterisation of the lithotypes. The cultural and environmental heritage of these sites is heavily hastened by instability processes, due to the super position of different lithotypes, the presence of dis- continuities and differential erosion and deformation of bedrock. Both the rock masses are characterized by variability of the cohesion and the cementation, and we…