Robustness and health monitoring of existing bridges

The paper shows how the robustness concept, mainly developed and thought for the design of new structures, and the monitoring by suitable sensors based on fiber optics can also play a relevant role in the safety and management of existing bridges. A new approach of robustness more related to the long-term and service life of bridges is presented and its advantages in the decision-making process during the management of existing bridges are highlighted and afterwards applied on a real bridge. The continuous-in-space monitoring by the use of distributed optical fiber systems is also presented and the promising results and advantages regarding the flexural cracking assessment in concrete elements are shown.