At the end of the course, students will have: • knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects related to experimental tests and measurements in the field of civil engineering; • develop the ability to apply the acquired knowledge following a professional approach specifically aimed at strengthening the working skills related to the application of innovative laboratory methods and techniques. More specifically, students will be asked to have developed the ability to design a laboratory experimental program, perform tests, analyze experimental data and interpret results.

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. Students will be divided in order to attend three of the five modules (for a total of 6 CFUs). Assignment of modules will be made by faculty members according to the capacity of the laboratories, taking into account as far as possible the scientific interests expressed by students during the first lecture. Within each module, short theoretical lectures are used to support the extensive laboratory activities that form the core of the course. Due to the applied nature of the course, lectures will be given in person. Due to the limitation of the number of participants for laboratory access, it will not be possible to attend the teaching in subsequent years.

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

Lecture slides; Exercises; Lab exercises;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Group essay;

The examination consists of an oral discussion to test knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the three assigned modules. Specifically, the oral examination assesses the ability to: • design a laboratory experimental program; • conduct experiments; • analyze experimental data; • interpret results. In order to access the oral exam, the group report prepared during class must be uploaded to the Classroom Portal. This document does not contribute directly to the final grade, but may be subject to discussion and review during the oral exam. Each module is graded in thirtieths, and the final grade is the arithmetic average of the grades for each module.

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.