Preliminary structural assessment of a corroded RC beam in a Maillart bridge

The evaluation of the state of preservation and of the consequent residual capacity of existing structures is a major issue nowadays, especially in the field of infrastructures, due to recent collapses and to the economic costs and social impacts of the maintenance works. In reinforced concrete bridges, a critical aspect is the identification and measurement of the actual damage condition, and the calibration of the parameters to be implemented in structural analyses. This paper presents the preliminary results of the on-site survey and material characterization of a degraded side beam of one of the first example of Maillart bridges in Italy, built in 1912 in the province of Bergamo. Preliminary considerations on the residual capacity of the degraded side beam were drawn and compared to the actual load demand.