Rehabilitation, strengthening and life-cycle assessment of an historical water channel Cavour masonry bridge crossing Cervo River after an extreme flood erosion at foundation pier causing massive settlement and large structural damages

A seven span masonry bridge water channel (> 150-year-old) crossing river Cervo, as a part of “Cavour water line”, has been struck by a flood during an extreme rain event. The intermediate pier P2 has suffered a massive settlement of the foundation (ΔZ > 0.5 m), with displacement and rotation components, so to induce a large damage to the masonry arched spans (near collapse) and the masonry upper water channel. A full life-cycle design approach was developed addressing historical structures studies, topographic survey, material and structural testing and laboratory campaign, detailed structure inspection, B.I.M. models, provisional structures, durability assessment, strengthening strategies, structural monitoring, bridge testing, water-proofing, seismic risk assessment, residual service life assessment. The result of many studies makes possible to increase the service life of the bridge, saving a critical water infrastructure that for more than 150 years has played a central role for the economy in northern Italy.