Foundation

Giovanni Lombardi Foundation

Empower young engineers from Ticino in Engineering research

Established during Lombardi's 50th anniversary, the Giovanni Lombardi Foundation encourages and supports young engineering students, from or living in Ticino, in their research endeavors related to engineering. Led by experienced engineers and professors, the Foundation aims to promote continual growth and excellence in the field.

The main research studies are related to

Rock Mechanics: Recognizing the significance of understanding the mechanical behavior of rocks, the Foundation actively supports research aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency in various geological and environmental conditions.
Underground Projects: As the trend of urbanization fuels the demand for underground infrastructure, the Foundation supports research endeavors concerning the planning, building, and operation of underground projects, such as tunnels and underground facilities.
Hydraulic Engineering: In response to the need of efficient water and energy management, the Giovanni Lombardi Foundation is committed to advancing research in hydraulic engineering and promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in line with new policies and regulations.
Global Challenges: The Foundation is dedicated to addressing multifaceted global challenges, including the impact of digitalization on civil engineering practices, life cycle management of infrastructure, and sustainability within the field.

The Foundation provides financial grants, each ranging from CHF 15,000 to 20,000 per project, contributing to the growth of expertise and excellence in these critical engineering domains within Ticino and across Switzerland.

Research Projects

Completed

Wear-resistant materials in hydraulic Engineering

Hydroabrasion, the wear and erosion from water and sediment, is a global challenge in hydraulic engineering, leading to high maintenance costs for structures like dams and sediment diversion tunnels. The Laboratory of Hydraulics at ETH Zurich (VAW) conducted a research project to optimize wear-resistant materials through field tests in the Solis and Pfaffensprung diversion tunnels to find cost-effective solutions from a lifecycle perspective.

Completed

Innovative measuring method for chloride transport in concrete

Supported by the Foundation, ETH Zurich Institute for Building Materials developed an innovative method to measure chloride transport in concrete, including its diffusion coefficient in relation to material variations, concrete age, and chloride binding capacity. Through a combination of analytical chemistry, thermodynamic modeling, and micro-X-Ray Fluorescence, this method enables more accurate predictions of chloride transport in concrete, contributing to enhanced infrastructure management.

Completed

High-Performance Concrete in Tunnels - The spalling sensitivity in case of fire

The “Politecnico di Milano”, in collaboration with CTG-Italcementi Group, investigated the interaction between pore pressure and stress triggering explosive spalling in concrete. They exposed 800x800x100 mm concrete slabs to fire while maintaining a constant compressive stress of 10 MPa. Continuous monitoring of pressure, temperature, and transverse displacements provided valuable insights into the spalling process.

Completed

Large-scale implementation of soil bio-improvement for a series of engineering applications

The project highlights the "bio-improved geo-material," a smart material developed at the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). This research assesses the soil bio-cementation technique's advantages in addressing engineering challenges such as stabilizing soils, restoring weak foundations, optimizing thermal interactions for energy-efficient buildings, and protecting against erosion.