Structural Health Monitoring of the Roman bridge S. Angelo on the Savuto river (Scigliano, Italy), by integration of a new sensor and geomatic techniques

Abstract

The Roman Bridge of S. Angelo, located along the road that connected Capua to Reggio Calabria (Via ab Regio ad Capuam), constitutes an important remain of Roman engineering works and is the best-preserved bridge along the road itself. Located in the middle valley of the Savuto river, this bridge is currently subject to structural monitoring by using various integrated techniques. The monitoring is carried out as part of a series of initiatives aimed at gaining in-depth knowledge and safeguarding a series of historic buildings in the same area. A new type of sensor, characterized by features not offered at the same time by those currently on the market, has been developed to aid structural and environmental monitoring. Previous surveys had been carried out with geomatic techniques; one of the products of these surveys is a 3D model of the bridge, used as input to carry out a Finite Element Modeling (FEM) analysis. The results of this FEM analysis will be compared with those obtained by the measurements carried out with the new sensor. The monitoring campaign, which has just begun, and the expected results are described and commented on. The main results obtained to date are the model of the bridge, a structural analysis and the settlements that have occurred over time as well as the creation of the new sensor.