Transactions on Transport Sciences 2008, 1(3):117-124 | DOI: 10.5507/tots.2008.017

Load rating assessment of masonry arch bridges

P. Řeřicha*
Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Republic

Simple formulas are developed for the mass scale load rating assessment of masonry arch bridges in terms of four geometrical parameters of the bridge. The ultimate load limit state and the repeated load limit state constitute the theoretical background. The formulas are constructed as the minimum squares best suited to a set of linear and nonlinear finite element solutions of a representative selection of the country's bridge stock. The formulas are quadratic in the arch span and linear in the arch rise, arch thickness and fill depth. The method can be used for other countries' masonry arch bridge stock; the data processing programme is portable. The structure of the formulas and the country's bridge stock representation can be adapted to local conditions. Nevertheless, new representations of bridge instances require rather demanding non-linear finite element solutions up until total collapse. This is the most laborious part of the formula's development.

Keywords: Arch bridges, masonry, load rating, limit states, finite element method, semiempiric formulas

Published: September 1, 2008  Show citation

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Řeřicha, P. (2008). Load rating assessment of masonry arch bridges. Transactions on Transport Sciences, 1(3), 117-124. doi: 10.5507/tots.2008.017
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