Follow-up ===> Technical paper on Morandi Bridge, Genoa, Italy

[Ingenuity]

This thread is closed thread815-443075 so by way of follow-up I thought I would post the following link from Structural Engineering International with a paper entitled:

Once upon a Time in Italy: The Tale of the Morandi Bridge ​

Link

This is currently a free download.

There is a lot in information in the paper on the original design and details, and also assessment and modelling of some possible collapse mechanisms.

Note the long't reinforcement ratios of 0.3% in the piers, and only 4 each Ø24 mm (2 each T & B) and 10 each Ø8 mm (5 each face) rebars in 4,500 mm deep x 180 mm thick multi-cell deck webs.

 

[thebard3]

I'm not finished with the article yet, but so far is confirming my belief that the prestressed concrete component of the stays has 5 relevant design features-
1- It made no load carrying contribution to the structure (Other than perhaps some relevant damping effect).
2- It added to the load demand of the stay cables
3- It provided a mechanism for corrosive elements to accumulate around the stay cables
4- It obscured the stay cables from any kind of visual inspection
5- It made for a handsome bridge
Could not the concrete have simply been removed when questions arose about the condition of the cables within?

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.

 

[thebard3]

I just found this analytical article today, with links to a video I had not seen before. It's about the best exhibit one could ask for.

http://www.retrofutur.org/retrofutur/app/main?DOCID=1000116371

Brad Waybright

It's all okay as long as it's okay.