Case studies of corroded reinforced concrete bridges in Southern Italy

On Italian roads, a lot of reinforced concrete bridges were built in the 1950’s and 1960’s for short spans, before the advent of prefabricated structures. Many of these bridges, sited on principal or secondary roadways, show the effects of corrosion of reinforcements and high levels of damage, leading to the likelihood of achievement of the Ultimate Limit State, below the required performances of serviceability, especially in the case of Gerber saddles having strongly corroded reinforcements. Different case studies of bridges sited in Southern Italy (Sicily) are shown, allowing engineers to classify the main effects of damage in corroded structures with the Gerber static scheme (cantilever girder bridges), for a first application of the new Italian Bridge Assessment and Maintenance Guidelines. The case studies are illustrated, and the structural implications are discussed, providing indications for treating the common cases of bridges with Gerber saddles.