sfaldamenti

Sfaldamenti is an Italian term used in geology, geomorphology and civil engineering to describe the detachment or flaking of superficial layers from a rock mass or from a manufactured surface. The phenomenon involves the progressive failure and removal of thin sheets or slabs, often along planes of weakness such as bedding, joints, or interfaces between materials. Sfaldamenti can result from natural weathering processes, mechanical stresses, or chemical-physical interactions.

In natural settings, sfaldamenti occur in layered or foliated rocks where unloading, thermal expansion and contraction, hydration or salt weathering promote the formation and growth of cracks. Over time, detached layers can form slabs that slide or fall, contributing to cliff retreat, talus slopes or rockfalls. Unloading-related exfoliation, where pressure release from erosion or overburden removal drives outer layers to peel away, is a common mechanism in some granitic and metamorphic terrains.

In construction and engineering, sfaldamenti describe the spalling of materials such as concrete, brick or plaster. Causes include freeze-thaw cycles, moisture ingress, salt crystallization, and corrosion of reinforcing steel, which generate internal pressures that force surface layers to detach. Spalling can compromise structural integrity and durability, necessitating protective measures like proper drainage, surface coatings, protective barriers, or remedial reinforcement.

Assessment and management typically involve geological mapping, monitoring of cracks and slopes, and stabilization measures such as rock supports, netting, shotcrete, and drainage improvements to mitigate hazards or extend the life of structures.