Discontinuous analysis of soil-arch interaction in masonry arch bridges

Ahmad, S; Swift, GM; Augusthus Nelson, L

Abstract

Back-filled masonry arches behave in a discontinuous manner, where deformation is governed by interaction at joints and the soil-masonry interface. A discrete element approach is used in order to explicitly model the interactions at discontinuities. A full scale back-filled masonry arch, confined within a stiff, frictionless (plain-strain) chamber was constructed under laboratory conditions and subjected to monotonic quasi-static loading. The test was modelled as a discontinuous system using the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) which computes the kinematics of a system of interacting bodies in a time-explicit formulation. A Mohr- Coulomb material model is attributed to the back-fill and discontinuities including the masonry joints and the soil-masonry interface. Force and displacement data, computed at the discontinuities reveals the behaviour of the arch and is used to analyse the interaction between the soil and masonry in the presence of both active and passive soil pressures as loading progresses.

Citation

Ahmad, S., Swift, G., & Augusthus Nelson, L. (2014, July). Discontinuous analysis of soil-arch interaction in masonry arch bridges. Presented at 9th International Masonry Conference, Guimarães, Portugal

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: 9th International Masonry Conference
• Conference Location: Guimarães, Portugal
• Start Date: Jul 7, 2014
• End Date: Jul 9, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 11, 2016
• Additional Information: Event Type : Conference