Influence of the Soil-atmosphere Interaction on the Collapse of Sand in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento

Research at the UNESCO-listed Valle dei Templi in Agrigento reveals that soil-atmosphere interactions significantly influence the collapse of sand layers beneath the site's calcarenite bench, threatening its archaeological structures. The study found that changes in water content due to evapotranspiration can rapidly induce vertical strains in a metastable sandy layer, leading to differential settlement and increased tensile stresses in overlying calcarenites. These stresses exacerbate discontinuities, potentially causing progressive failure. To quantify this phenomenon, the team used meteorological data and rainfall events to model water content changes in a one-dimensional sand model, then calibrated these results with oedometer tests to correlate water content increments with collapse magnitude. This first assessment provides critical insights into how environmental factors contribute to structural instability at this historic site.

Nocilla, A., Grossi, G., & Ponzoni, E. (2016). Influence of the Soil-atmosphere Interaction on the Collapse of Sand in the Valle dei Templi in Agrigento. Procedia Engineering, 158, 386–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.460