Large-scale physical modelling of soil-filled
masonry arch bridges

Augusthus Nelson, L; Swift, GM; Melbourne, C; Smith, C

Abstract

The presence of soil backfill has been shown to have a significant influence on the
load-carrying capacity of masonry arch bridges, with the soil fill providing a number of
important functions, including inter alia, the distribution of surface loads and passive
resistance to arch deformation during loading. Large-scale physical modelling allows
high quality data to be collected under controlled conditions, while enabling essential
aspects of the interaction between the soil fill, the masonry arch and the abutments to
be observed. This paper considers the design and construction of a unique test facility
that allows large-scale soil filled masonry arch structures to be studied under both
quasi-static and cycling loading regimes. Key challenges that needed to be overcome
to develop this facility are presented and discussed.

Citation

masonry arch bridges. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 18(2), 81-94. https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.16.00037

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 7, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 8, 2017
• Publication Date: Feb 8, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 10, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 8, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics
• Print ISSN: 1346-213X
• Electronic ISSN: 2042-6550
• Publisher: Thomas Telford
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 81-94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.16.00037
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.16.00037
• Related Public URLs: http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/serial/ijpmg