ABSTRACT
Civil engineering infrastructures in Italy were intensively developed since the 1960s and now-adays most of existing tunnels is affected by aging and deterioration processes. To face this challenge, the main Italian motorway agency has adopted a sound approach for the assessment of more than 350 km of tunnels and for the definition of specific interventions, conceived for the defects detected during inspections. It is important to emphasize that the fact-finding phase is fundamental to identify the best solution to repair the defects. This paper illustrates the effectiveness of the adopted methodology aimed at identifying defects, considering their nature, location, extension and origins, based on visual inspections and instrumental diagnostic methods. Great efforts have been devoted to defining and developing proper interventions in order to solve critical situations, reduce impacts of deterioration, prevent the evolution of defects and fulfill functionality and safety requirements. Several repair techniques and rehabilitation schemes are presented in this paper.
