The impact of very slow moving gravitative slope deformations on infrastructures: the case study of the Bridge of Ginosa

Abstract

Slow and very slow-moving landslides are quite common in Italy and in zone of recent tectonic uplift, in particular in clayey or sandy-clayey slopes. These landslides are not easy to be detected, since their extremely slow movements do not apparently produce effects. However, whereas structures or infrastructures exist and are stressed by slow landslides, their impacts can damage the structures/infrastructures. Bridges are valuable infrastructures, potentially threatened by slow moving landslides. Bridges can warp if stressed, but their resilience is limited. Therefore, the progressive and constant increasing of the stress due to slow landslides can cause failures of the bridges, and potentially collapses. In Italy, a large part of the bridges was built or rebuilt just after the WWII. These infrastructures are now aged and whereas slow moving landslides exist, they are suffering potentially dangerous stresses. This work focuses on a peculiar case study of a little bridge built between 1940 and 1947, located in south Italy, stressed and damaged by a slow-moving landslide.