The Master is a full-time course lasting one year. During the first six months the students will attend theoretical lessons, seminars and will take part in technical visits in construction sites and laboratories. Most of the lessons will be online, while one month of face to face classes is scheduled to facilitate the collaboration among the students and the development of a network with academic teachers, professionals and managers involved in tunnelling. Face to face classes will take place at Campus Lingotto of Politecnico di Torino (Via Nizza, 230 – 10126 Torino, TO).
During the following six months the students will have the opportunity of being involved in internships/projects in companies active in the sector, under the supervision of professors and professionals.
LESSONS: 375 h (March 2023 –June 2023)
INDIVIDUAL STUDY: 1085 h
INTERNSHIP: 480 h (Sept 2023 – Jan 2024)
TECHNICAL VISITS: 40 h
PROJECT WORK: 120 h
Mid-term test
During the mid-term test (September 2023) the participants will present and discuss the classworks and homeworks developed during the course.
Final discussion
The course ends with a final presentation, during which a project work/thesis carried out during the Master course or the internship is discussed. The final exam must be passed within eight months after the end of the Master.
Certification
After completing the course and on passing the final exam, the 2nd level (specializing) “Master in Tunnel Engineering” certification will be issued in English, with the achievement of 60 ECTS.
Prof. Claudio di Prisco – Politecnico di Milano Prof. Daniele Peila – Politecnico di Torino Prof. Laura Scesi – Politecnico di Milano Prof. Marilena Cardu – Politecnico di Torino
Master Organizing Committee
Andrea Carigi – Politecnico di Torino
Luca Flessati – Politecnico di Milano
Daniele Martinelli – Politecnico di Torino
Irene Redaelli – Politecnico di Milano
Carmine Todaro – Politecnico di Torino
Matteo Zerbi – Politecnico di Milano
Teaching modules
The course is subdivided in 12 Teaching Modules. At the end of each module, the fullfilment of the teaching objectives will be verified with an evaluation test.
1. Tunnel design: general concepts & risk managment in tunnelling Show more
This module is devoted to presents the main concepts associated with tunnelling process. This process always deals with a series of unavoidable uncertainties and unknowns, which have to be tackled by systematically applying appropriate risk management strategies.
2. Geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and risk analysis Show more
Module coordinator:
Laura Scesi
SSD: GE0/05 – GEO/11
CFU 3
The behaviour of rock and soils being excavated depends on may factors, among which the most important are the geological and the hydrogeological ones. The knowledge of geological and the hydrogeological conceptual models allows us to identify the hazards, estimate the risks and define the most suitable mitigation measures. This module is devoted to describe all the geological and hydrogeological aspects necessary for the definition of both geological and hydrogeological conceptual models.
3. Soil and Rock Mechanics & Investigations Show more
The geotechnical characterization is necessary to select the most appropriate construction method, to anticipate possible risks during construction and to define the most suitable mitigation strategies. In this module the main definitions of geotechnical properties for both soils and rocks are introduced and both laboratory tests and site investigations for geotechnical characterization are presented.
The aim of any computational analysis involving tunnelling problems consists in describing and simulating the hydro-thermo-chemo-mechanical processes taking place during the excavation and during tunnel operational life. In this module the most used computational tools will be presented. A particular attention is given to the numerical methods (Finite elements, finite differences and discrete element methods).
5. Construction Methods: conventional tunnelling Show more
Tunnel construction can be described as the set of operations that are carried out to produce a stable underground excavation. The construction process can be subdivided into three phases: excavation, short term stabilization of the created cavity and long-term stabilization of the tunnel. Tunnel excavation methods are usually divided into two main families: conventional methods and full-face mechanized methods. This module is devoted to the description of the most common conventional excavation methods.
6. Construction methods: Improvements and presupports (technology) Show more
Ground reinforcements and improvements, pre-confinements and pre-supports are interventions that are carried out both inside the geological materials that must be excavated (into the tunnel core) and around the future tunnel cavity, to ensure the stability of the tunnel, to manage the stresses around the tunnel and ahead of the tunnel face and to limit the ground deformations and finally to guarantee the health and safety of the workers. This module is devoted to the presentation of the most common techniques used to improve soils and rocks and to support tunnel faces.
7. Construction Methods: mechanized tunnelling Show more
Tunnel construction can be described as the set of operations that are carried out to produce a stable underground excavation. The construction process can be subdivided into three phases: excavation, short term stabilization of the created cavity and long-term stabilization of the tunnel. Tunnel excavation methods are usually divided into two main families: conventional methods and full-face mechanized methods. This module is devoted to the description of the most common Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).
8. Assessment of excavation related hazard and design of mitigation measures Show more
Tunnelling process has to be inspired by risk management strategies: for each hazard risk is individuated/assessed/evaluated. When the assessed risk are not acceptable, mitigation measures have to be defined/designed/implemented. This module is devoted to the presentation of the design approaches to the most common mitigation measures.
This module is aimed at summarizing several topics related to muck handling, concrete pouring systems, waste water management systems technological plants such as ventilation.
During tunnel construction data are collected, processed and interpreted with the aim of observing the performance of the system under construction. The whole of all these activities is named monitoring, and it is commonly included in a risk control and management strategy. The aim of this section is to illustrate the relevant physical quantities typically measured, the measuring instruments usually employed and, overall, the criteria that should be followed in order to correctly develop a monitoring plan and to properly use the collected data.
11. Environment, Contracts, Managment and Safety Show more
This module is aimed at summarizing the main aspects of the current legislation in tunnelling with a spercial reference to environment, safety and contracts. Moreover, in this module also the main concepts of project management are discussed.
With time, several degradation phenomena started to appear – induced by the action of natural agents, the ageing of the materials and the use of the tunnels and accelerated by construction defects – and required the implementation of systematic maintenance activities and reparation works. Maintenance enables good operational performances and increases the life of the tunnel. This module illustrates the activities – inspections and monitoring – necessary to keep tabs on the evolution of the state of the tunnel.
