An historical research on the development and application of prestressed concrete in Italy

Given the diverse and rich morphology of the Italian Peninsula, bridges have played a major role in the development of this country starting from the Roman times with road systems like the Aurelia and the Cassia, still standing today. Since ancient times, the development of a road and a bridge infrastructure network has always been the expression of a State’s organizational structure and power, being tied to a military or trading nature. Without doubt, the advent of concrete has allowed to quickly build and connect the country from north to south by developing an intense network of roads and bridges. Prestressed concrete has played a crucial role in Italy's infrastructure projects starting from the 1950’s with the construction of the Autostrada del Sole. Prestressed concrete represents a significant milestone in the evolution of bridge engineering, enabling the construction of structures with longer spans, increased durability, and enhanced structural performance. Through historical research, this study highlights the evolution of prestressed concrete technology in Italy, tracing its inception to early experiments and its subsequent refinement over the decades. The study explores the pioneering efforts of the Centro di Studio sugli Stati di Coazione Elastica at the Polytechnic of Turin for the development and application of prestressed concrete in Italy from 1945 to 1962. This study highlights key engineers, patents and case studies that have contributed to the technological advancement of prestressed concrete in Italy.