IPF 2018/Winners: ITS Injection Tube System consolidates soils prior to deep excavation (University of Milan – Bicocca).

Riccardo Castellanza, associate professor in Geotechnical Engineering in the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences (DISAT) with the project ITS – Injection Tube System is awarded the first IPF call in 2018.

ITS – Injection Tube System is able to simulate the treatment of soil in a laboratory environment: this allows to find the best mixture and parameters to optimize the consolidation of soils before an excavation.

ITS’s working method involves replicating injections of cementitious mixture into the soil, then pressure, forward velocity, and radius of penetration of the mixture are analyzed. Soil changes before, during, and after treatment are then observed. By performing these steps in the laboratory, the process reduces the cost and risk of a field operation.

Born as a spin-off of the University of Milano-Bicocca, ITS was activated by an industrial doctorate and then distinguished itself by arousing interest also at an international level.