Structural diagnostics and monitoring

Structural diagnostics encompasses the set of investigations aimed at understanding the materials, geometry, and operating conditions, through both destructive and non-destructive techniques—such as core drilling, rebound hammer tests, cover meter surveys, endoscopic investigations, flat jack tests, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans—designed to determine actual mechanical strengths and existing degradation phenomena. Visual and instrumental inspections, carried out on-site, allow for the identification of anomalous structural behaviour, while structural monitoring provides periodic or continuous control via sensors (accelerometers, crack meters, …) with the objective of detecting variations in significant parameters over time, such as deformations, vibrations, or displacements. These activities are particularly relevant in the context of assessing the vulnerability of the built environment and managing risk for existing structures. A proper diagnostic process reliably supports numerical modelling (FEM) and ensures effective interventions proportionate to the actual condition of the asset.