The Augustan Bridge at Narni: From laser survey to FEM seismic analysis

The Augustan Bridge of Narni represents one of the greatest transit infrastructure realized by the Romans. Mentioned in classical sources, partly collapsed on several occasions, the bridge has kept his strategic military role until the definitive collapse in 1053, being the obligatory transit from Rome to the North. Although subject to many studies however many technical aspects of the structure are still not fully understood: from which quarry the travertine blocks came from, the original number of arches, the absence of breakwater, the shape of the collapsed arches, its slope and physical connection to the Via Flaminia at both mountain and valley level, as well as the causes of its collapse. Recently an entire laser survey was carried out, today updated, providing comprehensive measurements for reconstructing the bridge’s original shape and overall size. Finally from FEM models was carried out a series of structural analysis.