Analysis of No-Tension Material Arch Bridges with Finite Compression Strength
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 1
Abstract
The mechanism method, based on the particularization of limit design to masonry structures proposed by Heyman, is certainly a very suitable procedure for the analysis of no-tension material arches, especially because of its simplicity. The literature largely treats the method under the hypothesis of infinite compressive strength of the material, whereas fewer studies are devoted to finite compression strength. In this paper the latter case is revisited with reference to masonry arch bridges, assuming a rigid-perfect plastic model for the material and using a nondimensional formulation. In this way, results are derived and discussed for a wide range of parameters. The results are compared with those obtained using Heyman’s hypotheses.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Alexakis, H., and Makris, N. (2014). “Limit equilibrium analysis and the minimum thickness of circular masonry arches to withstand lateral inertial loading.” Arch. Appl. Mech., 84(5), 757–772.
Boothby, T. E. (1997). “Elastic plastic stability of jointed masonry arches.” Eng. Struct., 19(5), 345–351.
Boothby, T. E., and Brown, C. B. (1992). “Elasto-plastic hardening and shakedown of masonry arch joints.” J. Eng. Mech., 367–383.
Boothby, T. E., and Rosson, B. T. (1999). “Elasto-plastic hardening and shakedown of masonry arch joints.” Meccanica, 34(2), 71–84.
Brencich, A., and De Francesco, U. (2004). “Assessment of multispan masonry arch bridges. I: Simplified approach.” J. Bridge Eng., 582–590.
Buffarini, G., Clemente, P., and de Felice, G. (2006). “Retrofitting of masonry arch bridges with FRP.” Proc., Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions—SAHC’06, P. B. Lourenco, P. Roca, C. Modena, and S. Agrawal, eds., Macmillan India, New Delhi, India.
Buffarini, G., Clemente, P., de Felice, G., and Satta, A. (2007). “Limit behaviour of partially reinforced masonry arch bridges.” Proc., 5th Int. Conf. on Arch Bridges ARCH’07, P. B. Lourenço, D. V. Oliveira, and A. Portela, eds., Multicomp Lda, Mem Martins, Portugal.
Choo, B. S., Coutie, M. G., and Gong, N. G. (1991). “Finite-element analysis of masonry arch bridges using tapered elements.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Part 2, 91(4), 755–770.
Clemente, P. (1998). “Introduction to dynamics of stone arches.” Int. J. Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn., 27(5), 513–522.
Clemente, P., Baratta, A., Buffarini, G., and Rinaldis, D. (1999). “Changes in the dynamic characteristics of a masonry arch subjected to seismic actions.” Proc., Structural Dynamics EURODYN ‘99, L. Fryba and J. Naprstek, eds., A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Clemente, P., Buffarini, G., and Rinaldis, D. (2010). “Application of limit analysis to stone arch bridges.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Arch Bridges ARCH’10, B. Chen and J. Wei, eds., SECON-HDGK, Fuzhou, China.
Clemente, P., Occhiuzzi, A., and Raithel, A. (1995). “Limit behavior of stone arch bridges.” J. Struct. Eng., 1045–1050.
Clemente, P., Occhiuzzi, A., and Raithel, A. (2001). “Discrete model for nonlinear analysis of masonry arches.” Proc., 3rd Int. Arch Bridges Conf., ARCH’01, C. Abdunur, ed., Presses ENPC, Paris.
Clemente, P., and Raithel, A. (1998). “The mechanism model in the seismic check of stone arches.” Proc., 2nd Int. Arch Bridges Conf., A. Sinopoli, ed., A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Crisfield, M. A., and Packham, A. J. (1987). “A mechanism program for computing the strength of masonry arch bridges.”, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.
DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges). (2015). “Volume 3, section 4, part 4 (BA 16/97).” Highways England, Guildford.
Gilbert, M. (2007). “Limit analysis applied to masonry arch bridges: State-of-the-art and recent developments.” Proc., 5th Int. Conf. on Arch Bridges, ARCH’07, P. B. Lourenço, D. V. Oliveira, and A. Portela, eds., Multicomp Lda, Mem Martins, Portugal.
Harvey, W. J. (1988). “Application of the mechanism analysis to masonry arches.” Struct. Eng., 66(5), 77–84.
Hendry, A. W., Davies, S. R., and Royles, R. (1985). “Test on stone masonry arch at Bridgemill - Girvan.”, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.
Heyman, J. (1966). “The stone skeleton.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 2(2), 249–279.
Heyman, J. (1969). “The safety of masonry arches.” Int. J. Mech. Sci., 11(4), 363–385.
Heyman, J. (1980). “The estimation of the strength of masonry arches.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng., 69(4), 921–937.
Kooharian, A. (1952). “Limit analysis of voussoir (segmental) and concrete arches.” J. Am. Concr. Inst., 24(4), 317–328.
Molins, C., and Roca, P. (1998). “Capacity of masonry arches and spatial frames.” J. Struct. Eng., 653–663.
Oppenheim, I. J. (1992). “The masonry arch as a four-link mechanism under base motion.” Int. J. Earthquake Eng. Struct. Dyn., 21(11), 1005–1017.
Page, J. (1987). “Load tests to collapse on two arch bridges at Preston, Shropshire and Prestwood, Staffordshire.”, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.
Page, J. (1988). “Load tests to collapse on two arch bridges at Torksey and Shinafoot.”, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.
Page, J. (1989). “Load tests to collapse on two arch bridges at Strathmashie and Barlae.”, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire.
Pippard, A. J. S., Tranter, E., and Chitty, L. (1936). “The mechanics of the voussoir arch.” J. Inst. Civ. Eng., 4(2), 281–306.
Taylor, N., and Mallinder, P. A. (1993). “The brittle hinge in masonry arch mechanisms.” Struct. Eng., 71(20), 359–366.
Wang, J., and Melbourne, C. (2010). “Mechanics of MEXE method for masonry arch bridge assessment.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Eng. Comput. Mech., 163(3), 187–202.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 7, 2016
Accepted: Jun 16, 2016
Published online: Jul 25, 2016
Discussion open until: Dec 25, 2016
Published in print: Jan 1, 2017
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.