Modal testing of a reinforced concrete Gerber-type bridge
Ultima modifica: 2025-08-07
Sommario
This study focuses on the modal identification of the “Ponte delle Grazie”, located in Faenza, northern Italy. The structure crosses the Lamone River and consists of a reinforced concrete deck with a Gerber-type configuration. It has a total length of 72 meters and a width of 13 meters, comprising three spans: the two end spans measure 21 meters each, while the central span is 30 meters long and includes a suspended deck segment—supported by Gerber saddles—with a length of 17.5 meters. The bridge, constructed in 1950, was found to be in a critical state of deterioration during inspections conducted in 2017, with significant damage observed in the rocker bearings, Gerber saddles, and lateral girders. These findings led to urgent repair interventions. A follow-up evaluation, carried out in line with Italian bridge guidelines, confirmed major structural issues, and flooding event further impacted the bridge. As a result, additional repair works were undertaken in 2024. Given these conditions, the bridge was deemed an ideal candidate for continuous monitoring via a permanent system, which was installed that same year as part of the DIGI-BRIDGE research project. This paper presents the results of dynamic tests carried out prior to the installation of the permanent monitoring system, aimed at assessing the dynamic behavior of the bridge. The tests were carried out using different acceleration measurement systems: one consisting of a few MEMS accelerometers, the same used in the permanent monitoring system; another including a larger number of PCB accelerometers, aimed at a more accurate characterization of the modal properties; and an innovative system based on fiber optic sensors. Results obtained from the monitoring systems are discussed and compared in the paper, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach.
è richiesta l'iscrizione al convegno per poter visualizzare gli interventi.