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Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM): investigation of process dynamics, material insights, and application prospects
No full textWire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), more recently referred to as directed energy deposition-arc (DED-arc), is emerging as a cost-effective solution with high material deposition rate and lower lead time. Thus, making it one of the most desirable Additive Manufacturing (AM) process for large-scale fabrication. However, extensive research is needed to realise the benefits of this technology. This thesis comprehensively evaluates the performance and prospectives of WAAM processes. The first study investigated different metal transfer modes and their interactions with input variables. The second study explored various deposition strategies for test walls and cubic samples on their built structure and mechanical properties. In addition, this study shows the influence of layer-stacking in the building direction on microstructural evolution and material hardness. The third study was based on a detailed analysis of cored-wire in two different WAAM process variants i.e. GMA and PTA-based WAAM. A solid wire of same chemical composition was employed for the comparative study. Different shielding gases were also investigated for GMA process to witness their influence on the process outcome. Another study was followed by depositing a hardfacing cored-wire with the properties of corrosion resistance to investigate the WAAM process in melting and deposition of such wire consumables. PTA and GMA processes with different shielding gases were used for hardfacing cored-wire to explore the opportunities and challenges of depositing such hard-to-deposit materials. The last study covered a process-driven comparative study on wire-fed DED processes based on electric arc, plasma and laser sources such as GMA, PTA and LMD. Thus, the research provides important insights on WAAM, by exploring it from a process, product and application perspective
Numerical approaches to slope analysis: stability and collapse dynamics
Get PDFIn the last decades, growing attention has been devoted to the phenomenon of landslides, due to their increasing frequency and impact on both human lives and infrastructure. Within this context, slope stability analysis has become a key tool in order to prevent and mitigate landslide damage. This work presents a comprehensive investigation into slope stability analysis, applying different algorithms across a variety of environmental settings. Here, two numerical methods are employed: the Second Order Cone Programming Finite Element Method (SOCP-FEM) and the more traditional Limit Equilibrium Method in its Minimum Lithostatic Deviation (MLD) formulation. Their application to diverse geological settings is illustrated, particularly in synthetic slopes and real-case scenarios such as the seabed stability analysis offshore Vado Ligure, the Tavernola landslide near Lake Iseo and the Salse del Dragone mud volcano (all found in the Italian territory). A novel strategy for determining the sliding surface is introduced, developed initially in a synthetic case and subsequently tested in the real-case scenario of the Tavernola landslide, which poses a potential risk of collapsing into Lake Iseo. Furthermore, we developed a Proof of Concept to link stability analysis with landslide dynamics and the generation of waves, addressing the multi-hazard risks associated with landslide events in lake environments. Additionally, the first comprehensive study of the Salse del Dragone mud volcano is outlined, integrating field surveys, seismic characterization, and stability analysis. This thesis provides a structured methodology for addressing uncertainties inherent in slope stability analysis across diverse and data-limited environments. By integrating advanced numerical methods and developing a novel strategy for sliding surface determination, this work offers a flexible approach adaptable to various geological settings. The developed methodology enhances the understanding of multi-hazard risks, such as those associated with landslides in lake and offshore settings, supporting a more comprehensive and reliable assessment of slope stability
Deep learning for intelligent and autonomous wireless networks
Get PDFIn recent years, distributed and ubiquitous intelligence has become a central force driving groundbreaking advances in wireless networks. Enabled by emerging autonomy, next-generation wireless networks are set to undergo substantial evolution. The main objective for the future consists in designing and creating cohesive communication and learning frameworks to achieve intelligent and autonomous wireless networks, pursuing the ambitious goal of achieving human-out-of-the-loop artificial intelligence (AI). Meeting this challenge signifies a critical transformation toward AI-native wireless networks that can dynamically self-adapt to complex scenarios. Addressing these future challenges requires a comprehensive integration of extensive knowledge in fields such as wireless communication and deep learning, creating opportunities for data-driven wireless network design, management, and optimization. This thesis investigates promising areas in wireless communications where AI paves the way for the achievement of intelligent and autonomous wireless networks. The first chapter introduces adaptive optimization in wireless communication networks and addresses the goal of learning effective and robust radio resource management strategies in complex scenarios. The second chapter explores the impact of generative AI in next-generation wireless networks, focusing on reliable and uncertainty-aware data generation processes enabled by approximate Bayesian learning. It illustrates how generative AI can represent an effective means of aiding data-driven algorithms in generalization and reducing the need for costly data collection. The third chapter then delves into distributed learning over wireless networks for radio resource management, which has the potential to meet the scalability demands of modern data-driven applications. This chapter emphasizes the importance of incorporating graph structures as an efficient way to introduce a relational inductive bias into the learning process, thus enhancing system performance across various metrics. Finally, the last chapter presents a holistic performance analysis of AI-native applications in 5G industrial internet-of-things networks, particularly within safety-critical scenarios, highlighting practical considerations on AI-native wireless network architectures
Quantifying the effects of global warming on spring discharge and assessing future discharge trends along the Apennines (Italy)
Get PDFGlobal warming affects atmospheric and oceanic energy budgets, altering the Earth’s water cycle. Groundwater, as the primary source of fresh water in the hydrosphere, is a vital resource for ecological, environmental, and societal needs. In countries like Italy, where springs are a predominant water source, it is crucial to assess their resilience to climate-induced changes in recharge for ensuring water supply and ecosystem preservation. The Mediterranean region, already experiencing reduced recharge and increased droughts, is a climate change hotspot. In particular, the Apennines in Italy, located at the heart of the Mediterranean, have observed significant climate impacts in recent decades. This PhD project presents a century-long analysis of discharge patterns from key springs along the Apennines to quantify the long-term effects of climate change and forecast future scenarios. Three main approaches were employed: the first combined experimental and historical analyses to evaluate the long-term effects of climate change on the flow rate of Nadìa Spring in the Northern Apennines, demonstrating its resilience during droughts. The second approach used multiregression analysis to investigate the relationship between recharge parameters and discharge at Sanità Spring (Southern Apennines) and Ermicciolo Spring (Amiata Mountain), aiming to forecast flow for 2040-2070 using projected meteorological scenarios. The third approach applied Long Short-Term Memory machine learning models to predict short- and long-term discharge at Sanità and Ermicciolo Springs. In addition to these, four other springs were investigated to assess climate change impacts over multi-decadal timescales. The results of this research provide a quantitative understanding of the relationship between climate drivers and spring flow rate, allowing for the projection of discharge scenarios and evaluation of future groundwater availability along the Apennines
Design of a sociological health dashboard to support the development of an app integrating social information and actions for the management and self-management of elderly patients in care facilities and at home.
Get PDFQuesta ricerca ha l’obiettivo di costruire un cruscotto sociologico sanitario, ovvero un insieme di informazioni e azioni sociali applicate all’uso di una piattaforma digitale per la gestione e l’autogestione di pazienti anziani, sia presso strutture dedicate che a domicilio. Le tendenze demografiche mostrano reti familiari sempre più sottili, con un aumento degli anziani e una diminuzione dei caregiver familiari disponibili. La ricerca si inserisce nel quadro teorico della sociologia digitale e della sociologia della salute, riconoscendo che le tecnologie digitali, in una società iperconnessa, trasformano profondamente l’esperienza della malattia e la gestione della cura. Tali tecnologie non sono meri strumenti, ma attori con una propria agency, capaci di incidere sui processi di cura. Attraverso un approccio di co-design basato sulla metodologia della ricerca partecipativa e qualitativa, la tesi esplora i bisogni dei pazienti anziani, dei caregiver e dei professionisti socio-sanitari nella gestione quotidiana delle cure. Il lavoro di campo è stato condotto presso la Cooperativa Sociale Società Dolce, attiva nei servizi socio-sanitari e assistenziali. Il risultato è la proposta di una piattaforma integrata, in grado di raccogliere e armonizzare informazioni sociali, sanitarie e assistenziali, migliorando la comunicazione tra operatori e familiari, e rispondendo alle necessità di personalizzazione e continuità della cura. Particolare attenzione è rivolta all’accessibilità dell’interfaccia, per superare le barriere del digital divide e facilitare l’uso anche da parte di utenti con scarse competenze digitali. Infine, la ricerca mette in luce i limiti dell’adozione tecnologica, come la disomogeneità nell’accesso alle risorse, le difficoltà d’uso da parte degli anziani e i rischi di medicalizzazione della vita quotidiana.This research aims to develop a sociological health dashboard, providing a set of social insights and actions to support the use of a digital platform for the management and self-management of elderly patients, both in care facilities and at home. Demographic trends reveal increasingly thinner family networks, with a growing elderly population and fewer younger family members available to provide care. The study is grounded in the theoretical framework of digital sociology and health sociology, acknowledging that in an ever-more connected and technologically advanced society, digital technologies are transforming both the experience and management of illness. These technologies are not just passive tools but actors with their own agency, actively shaping care processes. Using a co-design approach, rooted in participatory and qualitative research methods, this study explores the needs of elderly patients, their caregivers, and healthcare and social service professionals involved in daily care activities. The fieldwork was conducted at Società Dolce Social Cooperative, an organization providing social and healthcare services. The outcome of the research is a proposal for an integrated platform capable of collecting and harmonizing social, healthcare, and assistance data, improving communication between professionals and families, and responding to the need for personalized and continuous care. Special attention is given to interface accessibility, aiming to bridge the digital divide and ensure ease of use for those with limited technological skills. Finally, the research highlights the limitations of technology adoption, including unequal access to digital resources, usability challenges faced by many elderly users, and the risks associated with the medicalization of everyday life
Light superconudcting technology for decarbonized mobility
Get PDFThis thesis investigates a comprehensive multi-physical modeling framework tailored to superconducting applications, addressing the growing demand for efficient systems, focusing on energy transmission in power grids and green mobility like aircraft propulsion. The developed methodology focuses on integrating electrical, magnetic, and thermal domains to analyze and optimize superconductive devices with a unified and scalable approach. The first part of the thesis establishes the foundations of multi-physical modeling, emphasizing the interplay between different physical domains. Accurate numerical models, derived from a robust theoretical framework, have been validated through extensive simulations. These models have been compared against experimental measurements, commercial software, and literature results, ensuring excellent adherence to physical reality. In the second part, the proposed multi-physical approach is applied to large-scale superconducting applications, demonstrating its versatility and scalability by fully integrating the methodology within the Matlab and Simulink environment. The proposed application focuses on superconducting transmission cables for power grids. Furthermore, the methodology can be extended to electric powertrains for next-generation light superconducting propulsion systems, particularly in aircraft and marine vessels, showcasing significant improvements in efficiency, power density, and operational performance. The integration of these models into a cohesive simulation framework highlights their adaptability to real-world scenarios, enabling engineers to address design challenges and validate innovative solutions with confidence. The results presented demonstrate the potential of multi-physical simulations to accelerate the adoption of superconductive technologies across critical applications, paving the way for energy-efficient systems in transportation and power distribution. Overall, this thesis provides a unified and flexible modeling approach, contributing to the advancement of superconducting applications and offering a reliable toolset for future developments in the energy and transportation sectors
External shocks and societal responses: an analysis of migration, war, and their effects on society
Get PDFSocieties are influenced by external shocks such as migration flows, armed conflicts, and natural disasters. Understanding how these shocks impact societies is crucial to mitigate negative effects. This thesis explores the socio-economic impacts of external shocks through three distinct yet interconnected essays. The first essay, titled "How does temporary labor migration affect voting behavior and political polarization? Evidence from the USA", investigates the effects of temporary labor migration on political outcomes in the United States. Exploiting microdata on employers’ applications for H2A and H2B temporary work visas and employing a Bartik-type instrument for the number of temporary labor migrants in each county, I examine how an influx of temporary workers affects political outcomes. I find that temporary labor migration decreases the vote share of anti-immigration parties and reduces far-right political polarization while increasing far-left polarization. The second essay, titled "Charitable Giving in Wartime: Evidence from Donations during Russia's Invasion of Ukraine", analyzes charitable giving during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Utilizing unique donation data to a large Ukrainian charity aiding the military, the study assesses how military events, casualties, and media coverage influence philanthropic behavior. The results indicate that both casualties and media mentions cause an increase in donations. The third essay, titled "The effect of war on academic achievement: Evidence from Ukraine", focuses on the impact of war exposure on academic achievement, looking at Ukrainian students following the 2022 Russian full-scale invasion. Leveraging the data from the PISA and a difference-in-differences approach, the analysis reveals a deterioration in Ukrainian students' academic performance. These essays contribute to a deeper understanding of how external shocks like migration and war influence political behavior, economic actions, and social outcomes. By employing rigorous empirical methodologies and leveraging unique datasets, the studies offer valuable insights into the ramifications of external shocks on societies
From the illegal exploitation of the waste cycle to sustainable business models: towards business ethics and environmental protection
Get PDFThis research, conducted within the PON project “Sociological and Legal Tools for the Analysis of Environmental Crime Phenomena (Ecomafie)” (Action IV-5 GREEN), examines the illegal waste cycle as a particularly pervasive and lucrative expression of environmental crime. It explores the structural and regulatory factors that enable criminal infiltration into this sector, such as infrastructural deficiencies, regulatory fragmentation, and cost-saving incentives. The analysis adopts a sociological-legal approach grounded in academic literature, institutional sources, judicial rulings, and qualitative data gathered through interviews and a corporate internship. The study emphasizes the role of mafia-type organizations, highlighting how the illegal waste cycle has historically offered them a profitable avenue for investment and territorial control. At the same time, it assesses the increasing involvement of actors outside traditional mafia circuits, illustrating the evolving dynamics of environmental crime and the convergence between organized crime and corporate interests. A core part of the research is dedicated to the responsibility of legal entities. Legislative Decree No. 231/2001 is critically analyzed as a key legal instrument for attributing administrative liability to companies for environmental offences. The study also explores the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a complementary mechanism to promote legal compliance and sustainability. The research includes an in-depth case study of a company operating in the metallic waste sector, involved in criminal proceedings for illicit waste trafficking, money laundering, and tax fraud. Documentation and compliance protocols adopted following judicial seizure were examined, with particular attention to risk mapping procedures, ethical codes, internal control models, and the role of supervisory bodies. These elements were assessed in terms of their effectiveness and replicability, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to the identification of best practices aimed at enhancing corporate accountability and promoting a culture of legality and environmental responsibility
Green Emilia. Consumer Cooperation and the Challenges of Environmental Issues: The Case of Coop Emilia Veneto (1983–1996)
Get PDFLa ricerca intitolata «Emilia verde. La cooperazione di consumo e le sfide della questione ambientale: il caso Coop Emilia Veneto (1983-1996)» esplora il ruolo della cooperazione di consumo nell'affrontare le sfide ambientali tra gli anni Ottanta e Novanta in Italia, con un focus particolare sul caso-studio di Coop Emilia Veneto. Attraverso un approccio interdisciplinare che integra storia d'impresa, storia ambientale e scienze sociali, il lavoro analizza come la cooperazione di consumo abbia operato al crocevia tra impresa, ambiente e istituzioni pubbliche. Lo studio evidenzia il contributo del modello cooperativo nel plasmare politiche di educazione al consumo e di sostenibilità ambientale, con campagne innovative come quelle contro l'inquinamento del mar Adriatico, sull’uso sostenibile della plastica, sulla progettazione partecipata del verde pubblico. Si indaga inoltre il dialogo tra le pratiche cooperative e il cambiamento istituzionale, mostrando come queste abbiano influenzato il policy-making ambientale, fino all’approvazione di una nuova legge per la difesa delle acque e alla nascita del Ministero dell’Ambiente. Un'analisi comparativa con il contesto francese approfondisce il ruolo della cooperazione di consumo e delle organizzazioni di consumatori francesi nello medesimo periodo, evidenziando similitudini e differenze nelle strategie di risposta alle problematiche ambientali. Questo confronto permette di tracciare traiettorie comuni e specificità locali, ampliando la comprensione dell’impatto delle campagne di educazione al consumo e delle politiche d’impresa ecologicamente orientate a livello europeo. Utilizzando un repertorio più vario possibile di fonti archivistiche, fonti aziendali, periodici cooperativi e interviste a testimoni privilegiati, la ricerca fornisce una ricostruzione storica delle traiettorie socio-ecologiche della cooperazione di consumo emiliano-romagnola e dei suoi legami con la società civile e le istituzioni pubbliche, inaugurando nuove traiettorie di ricerca per una storia ambientale del movimento cooperativo in Italia.This research, titled Green Emilia. Consumer Cooperation and the Challenges of Environmental Issues: The Case of Coop Emilia Veneto (1983–1996), explores the role of consumer cooperation in addressing environmental challenges in Italy between the 1980s and 1990s, with a particular focus on the case study of Coop Emilia Veneto. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines business history, environmental history, and the social sciences, the study investigates how consumer cooperatives operated at the intersection of enterprise, environment, and public institutions. The research highlights the contribution of the cooperative model in shaping consumer education and environmental sustainability policies, focusing on innovative campaigns such as those against Adriatic Sea pollution, the sustainable use of plastics, and the participatory design of public green spaces. It further examines the dialogue between cooperative practices and institutional change, showing how these initiatives influenced environmental policymaking—culminating in the approval of new water protection legislation and the establishment of the Italian Ministry of the Environment. A comparative analysis with the French context deepens the investigation by examining the role of consumer cooperatives and consumer organizations in France during the same period, bringing to light both similarities and differences in their strategies for responding to environmental concerns. This comparison allows for the identification of common trajectories and local specificities, enhancing the understanding of the impact of consumer education campaigns and environmentally oriented business policies at the European level. Drawing on a wide range of archival sources, corporate documents, cooperative periodicals, and interviews with key witnesses, the study offers a historical reconstruction of the socio-ecological trajectories of consumer cooperation in Emilia-Romagna and its connections with civil society and public institutions. It opens new avenues for research into the environmental history of the cooperative movement in Italy
Perception, action, and emotions in aesthetic experience: an interdisciplinary approach applied to environmental sustainability
No full textThe present work describes an interdisciplinary project aimed at investigating how theories and empirical research methods of cognitive science can be applied to environmental sustainability. The theoretical framework of this thesis encompasses three fundamental research areas: Affordances, Empirical Aesthetics, and Sustainability. Study 1 attempts to connect research on affordances with knowledge on empirical aesthetics, intertwining our readiness for action with the effects of beauty on perception. Study 2 investigates aesthetic emotions and their variation in relation to individual motivations, analyzing the effects of experiencing a music concert across different modalities (live, in virtual reality, or in 2D) by participants who have different preferences and expectations. Study 3 gets to the heart of the matter, trying to work out empirically whether the aesthetic experience of art made from reuse of waste material may influence pro-environmental intentions and behavior, considering the role affective and cognitive mechanisms, and how they relate to individual traits. This work was carried out at the University of Vienna, during a 6-month visiting period abroad. Study 4 and 5 were conducted at the Greenhouses of Giardini Margherita, headquarters of Kilowatt, partner company of the present PON doctoral program. The former addresses the sustainability of space by investigating how communication through specific landmarks affects users' knowledge and behavior. Study 5, in turn, investigates the specific role that descriptive information can play in both our aesthetic experience and pro-environmental intentions, when applied to different types of art made from the reuse of waste material. All in all, the present PhD project tries to bridge domains that are typically far apart, and to apply cognitive science methods to aesthetics and ecology. Beyond the limitations of such research, the challenge as well as the originality of the present work lies in its interdisciplinarity, and in its applicative perspective on environmental sustainability