ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: This paper deals with the main aspects involved in the design and construction of the reinforced concrete bridges of the new Italian high speedNetwork.At the beginning, the authors present the main features of the new high speed/capacity railway network and the strategic choices from the infrastructural and structural points of view. The technical national code [1] for the design of railways bridges and the direct consequences due to the strategic choices are also illustrated. The state of art in Italy with regard to prestressed concrete bridges and viaducts for high-speed railways is then analysed. More than 90% of bridges and viaducts of the new high-speed lines are realised with simply supported spans of prestressed concrete decks, so special attention will be paid on their typical structural solutions. Main concepts of durability of structures involved in design of railway bridges are focused. The authors present the activities of modelling and testing on prototypes, usually preliminary to construction, and load testings. Finally, construction processes are described, taking examples from the latest viaducts with prestressed concrete decks currently under construction. At the end, future trends are presented on the basis of the critical evaluation of the present structural solutions.
