GPR survey of “Bellariva” swimming pool complex with a continous wave step frequency GPR radar

Summary This paper presents the results of a Ground Penetrating Radar survey on a historical building taking part of the “Bellariva” sport Centre, designed and built in Florence (Italy) in 1957-1960 years by the Word-famous Italian engineer Pier Luigi Nervi. The building under survey hosts the locker rooms of the swimming pool and a bar at the first floor, a restaurant at the second where an evident crack was observed. A Ground Penetrating Radar survey was performed in order to determinate the internal structure of the floor, dimensions and disposition of steel bars, and to gather information about the connections between perimeter beams and balcony at the level of the restaurant. The survey confirmed what were reported on the original drawings of the building. The results of the survey will be used for defining a numerical model and to design possible retrofit interventions.