Structural Analysis and Fatigue Reliability Assessment of the Paderno Bridge

The Paderno Bridge along the Adda river in the northern part of Italy is a relevant arch-bridge connecting Milan and Bergamo province in the northern part of Italy: the bridge is part of the Monza-Bergamo line and is in service from 1889. A stepwise and practical approach for evaluating the structural integrity of historical and deteriorated steel bridges, incorporating analytical, mechanical, and structural characterizations, is presented. Critical regions of hot spot members were identified using structural finite-element analysis, and fatigue reliability assessment analysis has been performed along with traffic estimation, taking into account various scenarios of traffic increase, in order to assess the possible remaining fatigue life. This analysis has evidenced that the structure might be kept in service at least for other 10 years. Appropriate retrofitting interventions are also indicated.