Life-cycle assessment and deterioration models for masonry arch bridges

Abstract

Bridges are key elements of the rail and road network and their safe maintenance is of strategic importance. A large proportion of bridge networks are approaching 100 years and maintenance/strengthening are becoming increasingly important issues. Life-cycle management aims to optimise long-term budgets, interventions, traffic, costs, environmental impact, amongst others. While bridges are only designed for up to 120 years, they often require significant interventions within 50 years. Masonry arch bridges have proved to be highly sustainable long-lasting structures with low maintenance needs. While bridge management currently has an approximately 100-year prospective, informed long-term deterioration models and tools are required before a longer-term view can be adapted. Long-term methodology for assessing masonry arch bridges is discussed and deterioration models proposed for fatigue compressive and shear loading based on laboratory tests. Initial results are considered in terms of practical application.

Examination of masonry arch bridge’s life-cycle assessment under far-fault earthquakes

“…In the phase of this study, it is investigated to deterioration models for historical masonry bridges due to static loading. Although there are many techniques designed for historical masonary bridge in the literature, such as Harvey [50], Gilbert and Melbourne [51], Fanning and Boothby [46] and etc, all of them are based on the static test data and the effects of long-term deterioration due to traffic loading and enviromental effects are not taken into account [52]. To taken into account these effects, Sustainable Masonry Arch Resistance Technique (SMART) [52] is proposed.…”

“…Although there are many techniques designed for historical masonary bridge in the literature, such as Harvey [50], Gilbert and Melbourne [51], Fanning and Boothby [46] and etc, all of them are based on the static test data and the effects of long-term deterioration due to traffic loading and enviromental effects are not taken into account [52]. To taken into account these effects, Sustainable Masonry Arch Resistance Technique (SMART) [52] is proposed. Using this technique, it is incorporated long-term service life and it is defined safe long-term loading limits into the assessment.…”

“…Using this technique, it is incorporated long-term service life and it is defined safe long-term loading limits into the assessment. This technique brings together all the existing methods into a single methodology, by considering not only the ultimate load capacity but also the long-term behaviour and residual life for masonry arch bridges [52]. In terms of mathematical relationship, SN type deterioration models have been proposed for masonry by Roberts et al [54] based on a series of small-scale laboratory tests.…”

“…To establish the practical application of SN curves, examples for stress levels and associated life probability are given in Table 6 [52], based on Casas' model. Furthermore, Tomor [52] obtained static test results and gives as a Figure as seen in Fig. 11.…”

Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Span Existing Masonry Arch Bridge

“…In total, it is estimated that about 60% of bridges are in masonry, 23% in concrete, and 22% metallic. Similar percentages may be also applied for highway bridges [1] (Fig. 1).…”