Infrastructures: From Italy innovative technologies for the safety of bridges and viaducts

Innovative technologies at reduced costs to quickly identify degradation elements on bridges and viaducts. These are some of the proposals that ENEA launched at the conference "Monitoring and evaluation of bridges and viaducts – Current situation and perspectives", several months after the collapse of the Polcevera viaduct in Genoa. Some of the top experts in the sector participated in the event in Rome, which aimed at identifying solutions for the protection and preventive maintenance of these strategic infrastructures.

For the check-up of bridges and viaducts ENEA proposes the radar interferometry system, based on a tool similar to a camera, capable of measuring the vibrations of a span, a pile of a viaduct or a bridge, also remotely. The radar interferometry can perform dynamic measurements on all the structures and, based on the findings obtained, define a scale of priorities both for the experimental investigations and the interventions to be conducted. The cost of measurements are considerably reduced as compared with traditional techniques and allow technicians to perform accurate data processing and interpretation without accessing the structure.

For a continuous survey of the behavior of bridges, ENEA proposes fiber optic sensors able to monitor at an affordable cost even a high number of detection points. This system can be the starting point for a project / prevention process on bridges and viaducts that, based on the results of continuous monitoring, favors preventive maintenance in real time.

"The collapses of bridges and viaducts that have occurred in recent years suggest that, like people, even the structures need scheduled check-ups. We are able to control them continuously thanks to advanced monitoring systems that allow us to identify damage already in their initial phase. The technologies offer the possibility to remedy in time, before the deterioration gets worse and requires heavier and more expensive interventions", said Paolo Clemente of the ENEA Laboratory 'Technologies for the Dynamics of Structures and the Prevention of Seismic and Hydrogeological Risk'.

ENEA has over thirty years expertise in the static and seismic monitoring of bridges through state-of-the-art equipment, such as the analysis carried out on the Indiano bridge in Florence, the access viaduct to Civita di Bagnoregio (VT) and the pedestrian walkway in Forchheim (Bavaria). The Agency is also involved in the seismic upgrading of these constructions, using technologies based on insulation and dissipation systems, particularly suitable for the protection of existing structures such as, for example, the prestressed concrete bridge and masonry stacks on the Reno river in Marzabotto (Bologna).

For more information please contact:

Paolo Clemente, ENEA - Laboratory “Technologies for the Dynamics of  Structures and the Prevention of Seismic and Hydrogeological Risk” - paolo.clemente@enea.it