Fragility of bridge decks exposed to hydraulic and driftwood actions

Pucci, Alessandro; Sousa, Hélder S.; Giresini, Linda; Matos, José C.; Castelli, Fabio

doi:10.1080/15732479.2023.2272725

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 61 publications

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“…In particular, the effects of climate change are currently considered and studied in an international context, using several models. It is well-known how rainstorms or tropical cyclones significantly influence the structural stability of motorway bridges and viaducts, especially if these are characterized by reduced spans, due to possible erosion phenomena or the presence of additional actions [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change Impact on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Bridges and Their Seismic Performance

Zucca,

Landi,

Puppio

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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As a consequence of climate change impact, a significant variation in terms of temperature, atmospheric humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration levels is happening. This condition leads to several negative effects on the safety and the life cycle of existing concrete structures, such as the increase in the rate of material degradation, due to corrosion phenomena. In fact, the presence of carbonation and corrosion phenomena significantly influence the load-bearing capacity of existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures, under both static and dynamic loads. Among the wide range of existing RC constructions, bridges stand out for their importance. Furthermore, as structures directly exposed to the weather effects, they are more susceptible to these phenomena. In this paper, the influence of corrosion on existing RC motorway viaducts’ seismic behavior, considering the impact of climate change, is investigated, by means of an efficient procedure based on the implementation of 3D simplified finite element models and the use of analytical relations to obtain the amount of reduction in the steel reinforcement area as a function of the age of the bridge and of the different corrosion scenarios analyzed. Several scenarios for the expected variations in CO2 concentrations, temperature, and relative humidity are evaluated, considering that most of the viaducts present in the Italian motorway network were built between the 1960s and the 1970s. The results obtained using the projection of climate change impacts are compared with those calculated considering the corrosion scenarios resulting from the DuraCrete research project, to understand if the evolution of climate change leads to worse scenarios than those previously assessed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change Impact on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Bridges and Their Seismic Performance

Zucca,

Landi,

Puppio

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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Fragility Analysis Based on Damaged Bridges during the 2021 Flood in Germany

Pucci,

Eickmeier,

Sousa

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

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Floods trigger the majority of expenses caused by natural disasters and are also responsible for more than half of bridge collapses. In this study, empirical fragility curves were generated by referring to actual failures that occurred in the 2021 flood in Germany. To achieve this, a calibrated hydraulic model of the event was used. Data were collected through surveys, damage reports and condition ratings from bridge owners. The database comprises 250 bridges. The analysis revealed recurrent failure mechanisms belonging to two main categories: those induced by scour and those caused by hydraulic forcing. The severity of the damage was primarily dependent on the bridge typology and, subsequently, on the deck’s weight. The analysis allowed us to draw conclusions regarding the robustness of certain bridge typologies compared to others for a given failure mechanism. The likelihood of occurrence of the triggering mechanism was also highlighted as a factor to consider alongside the damage probability. This study sheds light on existing vulnerabilities of bridges to river floods, discussing specific areas in which literature data are contradictory. The paper also strengthens the call for a shift towards a probabilistic approach for estimating hydraulic force in bridge design and assessment.

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Hydraulic Risk Assessment on Historic Masonry Bridges Using Hydraulic Open-Source Software and Geomatics Techniques: A Case Study of the “Hannibal Bridge”, Italy

Dewedar,

Palumbo,

Pepe

2024

Remote Sensing

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This paper investigates the impact of flood-induced hydrodynamic forces and high discharge on the masonry arch “Hannibal Bridge” (called “Ponte di Annibale” in Italy) using the Hydraulic Engineering Center’s River Analysis Simulation (HEC-RAS) v6.5.0. hydraulic numerical method, incorporating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry and aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data for visual analysis. The research highlights the highly transient behavior of fast flood flows, particularly when carrying debris, and their effect on bridge superstructures. Utilizing a Digital Elevation Model to extract cross-sectional and elevation data, the research examined 23 profiles over 800 m of the river. The results indicate that the maximum allowable water depth in front of the bridge is 4.73 m, with a Manning’s coefficient of 0.03 and a longitudinal slope of 9 m per kilometer. Therefore, a novel method to identify the risks through HEC-RAS modeling significantly improves the conservation of masonry bridges by providing precise topographical and hydrological data for accurate simulations. Moreover, the detailed information obtained from LIDAR and UAV photogrammetry about the bridge’s materials and structures can be incorporated into the conservation models. This comprehensive approach ensures that preservation efforts are not only addressing the immediate hydrodynamic threats but are also informed by a thorough understanding of the bridge’s structural and material conditions. Understanding rating curves is essential for water management and flood forecasting, with the study confirming a Manning roughness coefficient of 0.03 as suitable for smooth open-channel flows and emphasizing the importance of geomorphological conditions in hydraulic simulation.

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Fragility of bridge decks exposed to hydraulic and driftwood actions

Cited by 3 publications

References 61 publications

Climate Change Impact on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Bridges and Their Seismic Performance

Climate Change Impact on Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Bridges and Their Seismic Performance

Fragility Analysis Based on Damaged Bridges during the 2021 Flood in Germany

Hydraulic Risk Assessment on Historic Masonry Bridges Using Hydraulic Open-Source Software and Geomatics Techniques: A Case Study of the “Hannibal Bridge”, Italy

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