Comparative Predictions of the Collapse Load for Masonry Arches Including Backfill Effects

Author

J.F. ROBINSON*, A. THAVALINGAM*, D.A. PONNIAH* AND N. BICANIC **
* School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Edinburgh ** Department of Civil Engineering, University of Glasgow

Abstract

This paper presents some of the results from an ongoing investigation into soil-structure interaction problems in backfilled masonry arch bridges. A series of tests has been performed at Edinburgh University on a single span semicircular backfilled arch to investigate the influence of fill on the collapse loads. Nonlinear finite element and discontinuous modelling analysis techniques have been performed and comparisons made with the experimental results. From these comparisons the discrete methods have been shown to produce identifiable, realistic and accurate failure mechanisms, showing these modelling methods to be particularly suited to masonry arch assessment.

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