PSI - Issue 62

Ettore De La Grennelais et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 62 (2024) 48–56 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

49

2

Keywords: Risk Assessment, Bridge Engineering, Existing Bridges, Inspection, FE Modelling, Diagnostics

1. Introduction The management of bridge safety is a crucial element in safeguarding road infrastructure, ensuring user safety, and preserving the durability of structures (Ryall, 2010; Dayan et al, 2022). In this context, the framework agreement between the ANAS S.p.A. (Italian National Road Authority) and BOLINA Engineering plays a significant role, focusing its efforts on the road network in Northeastern Italy. The importance of this agreement lies in the need to adopt advanced practices in compliance with current regulations to ensure the safety of numerous bridges within the ANAS network (see Fig.1). Guidelines (Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, 2022) provide a robust regulatory framework for bridge safety management, proposing a stratified approach tailored to the criticality of individual structures. In this context, BOLINA Engineering, a strategic partner of ANAS, actively engages in engineering activities across all four levels of verification. Within the scope of the mandate received, BOLINA operates within the first four levels outlined by the Guidelines, adhering to the operational modalities typical of each level. • Level 0: Involves gathering all design information and documenting the structural characteristics of all infrastructural works through the compilation of an identity card. • Level 1: Encompasses direct visual inspections and rapid surveys of the structure, along with geo-morphological and hydraulic characteristics. This level characterizes the existing degradation, geometric and structural properties, and potential risks associated with landslides or hydraulic events for bridges identified at Level 0. • Level 2: Based on the assessment of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability parameters derived from previous surveys, it assigns an attention class to each bridge. Depending on this class, decisions are made on the number of subsequent investigation levels required to delve into the structure's safety. • Level 3: Involves simplified assessments to determine the need for further investigations through Level 4 verifications. • Level 4: Comprises safety evaluations in accordance with NTC2018 regulations (Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, 2018). This synergy between ANAS and BOLINA reflects a joint commitment to the safety and durability of structures, with a particular focus on the needs of the road network in Northeastern Italy. The goal is to provide an exemplary model of infrastructure management by integrating best engineering practices with regulatory provisions to ensure user safety and preserve the integrity of road structures in the long term. Subsequently, an overview of ongoing activities will be presented, followed by the presentation of a specific case representative of the work conducted on each bridge within the examined asset.

Fig. 1. Examples of bridge structures of the ANAS road network in Northeastern Italy.