SALT – multiScale and interdiSciplinary characterization of Alpine sulphates for geologicaL and geotechnicaL modeLing: applications for Tunneling and underground energy sTorage
The SALT project (PRIN20224SZCJX), “multiScale and interdiSciplinary characterization of Alpine sulphates for geologicaL and geotechnicaL modeLing: applications for Tunneling and underground energy sTorage,” is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Italian Ministry of University and Research.
The project is dedicated to the in-depth study of sulphate-bearing rocks in complex Alpine metamorphic settings.
Its main objective is to obtain a detailed understanding of the geomechanical and geochemical behavior of sulphate rocks (such as gypsum and anhydrite), with particular attention to expansion phenomena, viscous deformation (creep), water-induced weakening, and the development of karst systems, which may compromise the stability of underground infrastructures.
Sulphate-bearing rocks represent a significant challenge for engineering works such as tunnels and underground storage systems, especially in complex settings like orogenic belts, where these lithologies are involved in polyphase tectono-metamorphic evolution.
To better understand the behavior of these rocks, the project adopts a multiscale and interdisciplinary approach that integrates in situ investigations within the local geological context with laboratory experimental testing on rock samples.
The study areas include the Susa Valley in the Western Alps and the Brenner Base Tunnel construction site in the Eastern Alps—two settings that are representative both in terms of geological complexity and infrastructural relevance.