Exploring the Multifaceted Aspects and Benefits of Structural Health Monitoring

Abstract

The degradation and failures of structures present considerable threats to both the economy and society, underscoring the need to address safety risks and maintenance deficiencies. These issues, combined with the aging of structures and progressive deterioration, require improved structural safety assessment methods and strategies to ensure accurate evaluation of the remaining service life. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is crucial in addressing these challenges. These systems primarily ensure safety concerning Ultimate Limit States and protect lives. Additionally, they offer benefits such as supporting proactive maintenance, monitoring traffic load variations, understanding structural behaviour under different conditions, and evaluating the effectiveness of retrofitting interventions. In this paper three case studies, related to reinforced or prestressed concrete bridges monitored in continuous and in real time by Sacertis Ingegneria, showcase the effectiveness of SHM systems demonstrating how these systems can effectively identify behavioural variations due to different causes, supporting the maintenance and safety of aging infrastructures.