Abstract
Maintenance of existing structures requires a solid understanding of their structural behavior with their varying geometry, boundary conditions, and load cases. For the case of the masonry arches, this understanding is still lacking in the field, yet, masonry arches are crucial parts of the railway and highway network systems in many countries. In this paper, two dimensional numerical models were prepared to simulate the nonlinear response of masonry arches under static loading without soil-structure interaction effects. A custom-made Discrete Element Method (DEM) software was
employed for this research, such that the models represent a discontinuous medium of rigid blocks. Different scenarios were generated on a hypothetical masonry arch model to observe the influence of different parameters on the structural behavior of masonry arches. Investigated parameters include: effect of soil infill and spandrel walls, bond pattern at the arch barrel for double layer arches, and boundary conditions. In addition,the discrete element approach and the software were validated by an experimental
work from literature. The results of the analyses show that discrete element modeling is a powerful technique, which demonstrates the development of collapse mechanisms of
masonry arch structures. Parametric analyses also indicated that soil infill and spandrel walls, if intact, can have beneficial effects on the load carrying capacity of arches.
Based on the results of this study, the bond pattern between arch layers does not make a significant difference in the overall behavior. As expected, boundary conditions matter, and should be taken into careful consideration for each masonry arch bridge through detailed observations on site.
employed for this research, such that the models represent a discontinuous medium of rigid blocks. Different scenarios were generated on a hypothetical masonry arch model to observe the influence of different parameters on the structural behavior of masonry arches. Investigated parameters include: effect of soil infill and spandrel walls, bond pattern at the arch barrel for double layer arches, and boundary conditions. In addition,the discrete element approach and the software were validated by an experimental
work from literature. The results of the analyses show that discrete element modeling is a powerful technique, which demonstrates the development of collapse mechanisms of
masonry arch structures. Parametric analyses also indicated that soil infill and spandrel walls, if intact, can have beneficial effects on the load carrying capacity of arches.
Based on the results of this study, the bond pattern between arch layers does not make a significant difference in the overall behavior. As expected, boundary conditions matter, and should be taken into careful consideration for each masonry arch bridge through detailed observations on site.