It is well known that traffic volumes and loads can greatly increase during the life-span of an infrastructure. The infrastructure performance can fall under a warning level and a strengthening or repairing intervention become necessary. In other cases, the environmental conditions lead to a premature deterioration of the materials and an extremely quick intervention is needed as well. Moreover. some infrastructure elements were built before the seismic codes  were available or before the seismic risk was recognized.

Deterioration of materials, higher traffic loads, seismic hazard are determining the need of defining innovative structural solution and new analyses and retrofitting techniques for existing bridges.

Some bridge major collapses, occurred in the last few years worldwide, brought high attention and warning on the  safety of bridges and, more in general, on the infrastructure system.

There is a significant and growing need for the strengthening of existing reinforced concrete structures. Structural deterioration may have taken place, a change in use could result in heavier loading, or requirements of design and loading Standards may change.

There is a need for techniques that can provide cost effective solutions to both the design and implementation of strengthening measures. Moreover, there is a stronger need than ever to grow researchers/practitioners that combine a robust academic foundation in structural analysis/conceptual design with practical experiences, technological expertise with awareness of the socio-economic impact in the field of existing infrastructures.

Hence, main goal of the Summer School is to offer innovative background, both analytical and practical, on structures and infrastructures, as well as laboratory experience.

The Summer School will be supported by the international Association for Structural Concrete (fib) and by the Engineering Chamber of Brescia.