Construction Laboratory

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Head: Prof. Arch. Antonella Mami' - +3909123896137 - antonella.mami@community.unipa.it - Bd.8 /F4 - 1 floor ext room 21

Deputy Head: Prof. Arch. Simona Colajanni
Referent for laboratory tests: Dr. Eng. Manfredi Saeli
Referent for in situ analyses: Dr. Eng. Elvira Nicolini

RECEPTION HOURS:
10: 00-13: 00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday
15.00-17: 00 Tuesday and Thursday
After sending the request via email

The Construction Laboratory of the Department of Architecture (D'ARCH) of the University of Palermo carries out laboratory investigations, bench tests and in situ analyses intended for scientific research, teaching activity and on behalf of third parties, either public and private institutions.
In the Laboratory it is possible to manufacture, characterise and, subsequently, experimentally evaluate the durability of the building and construction materials, both traditional and innovative, following standardised and reproducible procedures.
It is also possible to produce 3D models of building components.
In situ it is possible to carry out experimental analyses to evaluate the masonry characteristics and the building envelope heat loss, as well as to measure various indoor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, lighting, quality and air flow, acoustic intensity.

The main offered services are:

Manufacture and characterisation of both traditional and innovative materials and products for architecture and design;
Accelerated aging tests on building materials and components;
Production of 3D models of building components;
In situ analyses on the building envelope and masonry;
Measurement of environmental parameters (indoor environments).

The Construction Laboratory is equipped with the following instruments:

Tools for construction and building materials manufacture (mixer, motorized vibrating table, moulds, ovens, furnace, etc.);
Tools for materials characterisation (motorized flow table, universal hydraulic press, abrasimeter, colorimeter, spectrophotometer, optical microscope, saw for thin sections, penetrometer for wood, etc.);
Tools for in situ investigations (cover meter, ultrasound sclerometer, thermos-camera, hydraulic jacks, core machine, micro-carotator, endoscope, etc.);
Instruments for environmental parameters measurement (luxmeter, data logger, globometric probe, turbulence probe, CO₂ probe, phonometer, etc.);
Tools for complex environmental conditions simulation for the materials and components durability assessment (climatic chamber, salt-spray chamber, freezer, UV chamber, etc.);
Machine for 3D models and prototypes production (three-axis numerical control machine);
Total station.

Scientific and third-party activities:

PON 2014-20_MISE - PON Imprese e competitività 2014/2020 Ministry of Economic Development, Bio-based technological innovations and circular economy strengthening for primary processing waste of organic almonds with high agro-industrial potential management (Scientific responsible Prof. Francesco Sottile);
PON “Research and Innovation 2014-2020” “AIM: Attraction and International Mobility” (co-financed by the European Social Fund) area: “Technologies for the Environments of Life”:
- Line 1 – Mobility of researchers, refers to the systemic study of smart management solutions for the user well-being and the sustainable use of living environments, with attention to strategies and devices conceived from design-for-all point of view (Scientific responsible Prof. Elvira Nicolini);
- Line 2 – Attraction of researchers, involves novel sustainable materials production and technological characterization, using local renewable or recycled raw materials, for the creation of innovative and sustainable products and components for architecture (Scientific responsible Prof. Manfredi Saeli).

Didactic activity:

within the Course of Study in Design and Culture of the Territory (LM-12) for the Laboratory of biomaterials and components for design (Scientific responsible prof. Simona Colajanni);
within the Course of Study in Architectural Engineering (LM-4 C.U.), Laurea Laboratory “Development of novel and sustainable materials and products for architecture: circular economy and waste reuse for prototype manufacturing”, Academic Year 2021-22 (Scientific responsible Prof. Manfredi Saeli).