Vulnerability of Bridges Subjected to Slow Slope Movements

Several bridges across Italy and Europe have been built in unstable sloping areas that are seat of slow landslides. In some cases, they remain opera-tional for some time because of the slowness of slope movements, their crucial role in regional transportation systems, and the lack of viable alternatives. An urgent need then arises for reliable diagnostic procedures aimed at real-time risk assessment. This paper, which focuses on the response of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges, suggests a simple approach based on monitoring of bridge defor-mations. Taking inspiration from the seismic technical literature, it is based on the comparison between the angular rotation of piers and abutments caused y slope movements and pre-defined damage thresholds. Available data from some documented case studies demonstrate that the proposed procedure might provide a useful proxy for the analysis of structural distresses.