Structural health monitoring of a RC bridge in Como, Italy

The Merone viaduct is managed by the Como Province authority in Italy and represents a critical transportation link both at local and regional scales. It has been selected as one of the nine pilot bridges considered for design and implementation of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems to support a joint project between Regione Lombardia and Politecnico di Milano for the definition of criteria and guidelines for maintenance and management of the regional roadway infrastructures. The viaduct is a 51-year-old structure with concrete deck I-beams and Gerber joints. A SHM has been installed in two out of the nine spans of the viaduct. Sensors networks include displacement transducers, monoaxial and biaxial temperature compensated MEMS tiltmeters and cable actuated sensors. The installed system is operational since the beginning of 2021. It is aimed at continuously recording a set of kinematic parameters to monitor over time the structural response and condition state of the bridge under service and environmental loadings. This paper provides a description of the proposed SHM and an updates on the results of the ongoing monitoring activities and data processing as a support to the framework for maintenance and management of the roadway infrastructure at regional scale.