At the end of the course students will have: • acquired knowledge about theoretical and practical aspects related to experimental tests and measurements performed in the field of civil engineering; • developed the ability of applying the acquired knowledge following a professional approach specifically aimed at strengthening working skills related to the application of innovative laboratory methods and techniques.

Students attending the course should already possess basic knowledge about geotechnics, hydraulics, infrastructure systems, structural mechanics and structural engineering.

Introductory concepts of measurements and results interpretation; • Module 1 – Geotechnics: Physical and mechanical characterization of soils according to standard laboratory tests; • Module 2 – Hydraulics: Application of the main experimental methods for the measurement of pressure, velocity, force and flow in liquid streams of various types; • Module 3 – Infrastructures: Structural and functional laboratory characterization of pavement construction materials; • Module 4 – Structures A: Standard tests for the characterization of the mechanical properties of strength and deformability of materials of existing structures; • Module 5 – Structures B: Structural tests for the analysis of the deformability and the load capacity of structural members.

The course is composed of the following five modules: Module 1 - Geotechnics (mandatory for career in Geotechnical Engineering); Module 2 – Hydraulics (mandatory for career in Hydraulic Engineering); Module 3 – Infrastructures (mandatory for career in Infrastructure and Transport Systems Engineering); Module 4 – Structures A (mandatory for career in Structural Engineering); Module 5 – Structures B. Each student will attend three of the five modules proposed in the course. The three modules will be assigned to each student on the basis of the career selected for the master degree and considering student’s scientific interests. Within each module, short theoretical lectures will be used as a support for the extensive laboratory activities, which constitute the core of the course. Due to the applicative character of the course, lectures will be held in person. Students not attending in person will be provided with the necessary tools to conduct the course activity remotely.

Resources: • Course notes; • Standards; • Documents available on the course webpage.

Lecture notes;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group essay;

For each of the three modules, the final exam consists in: • an oral interview aimed at verifying the acquired knowledge and the understanding of the topics of the course; • the preparation of a technical report aimed at verifying the ability acquired during the experimental activities. The final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained for the three modules.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.