Problems with Arch

Bridge Assessment
Bill Harvey
Archie-M seminars 2006

Problems

Problems

Disturbed Voussoirs

Deflections trace axles

Vertical deflection at crown

Deflection mm

-1

First five seconds

Last one second

Span Change with

axles

Distribution of
deflection

Arch assessment
mantras

Arches are very strong

MEXE is conservative

Theoretical problems

Load

Capacity

Design Aim

Theoretical problems

Assesse
d

Load
Assessment Outcome

Capacity

Theoretical problems

True
Load

Capacity
Actual
situation

Assesse
d
Capacity

Strathmashie

The arch didnt fail

The arch wasnt loaded
All the load on the spandrels

Proportion of test result

What does BD21 say?

1.06
1

0.5

0.35

0.44
0.33

0.37

ARCHIE

ARCH

0
Pippard

CTAP

MAFEA

Different models

Why a problem

Actual failures unlikely

Over generous assessment
Traps owners into commitment

What can we do about

it?

Start again
Look for wrong turnings

Hookes hanging chain

So, but inverted

Dundee model layout

Patch load

4m span

Dundee Patch load

pressures

Centre of load

Effective Strip

Effective strip?

E ffe c tiv e s trip

Sin wave in Archie-M

Effect of long
distribution

Long established rules

D is trib u tio n in a w a ll

D is trib u tio n in a
C a n tile v e r s la b

1930s Tests (reported

53)

Patch loads
Many deflections
Used deflection profiles
Only considered load point

Original Data as used

Centre Line deflections, Croft Bridge

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5

Position in span

Original data reviewed

Croft bridge, load at quarter point deflections at 3 lines
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5

Elastic Finite Elements

Not ideal
Can provide an indication
Bare concrete arch
10m span, 10m wide, 2.5m rise
Rigid supports
Pure elastic
Extract Thrust

FE analysis, Live only

Compound thrusts

Heyman said it but I forgot

Live load thrust modifies dead
load
The effect is linear
We can use superposition

Compound thrusts

Basic Thrust
Calculation

Thrust components

Simple fan

Complex sweep

Span directio n

Pressure cells

+3K Pa

-2K Pa

+2K Pa

-1K Pa
+800K Pa applied

+1K Pa

Skew arch

5.000
4.500
4.000
3.500
3.000
2.500
2.000
1.500
1.000
0.500
-2.500

-2.000

-1.500

-1.000

0.000
-0.500 0.000

0.500

1.000

1.500

2.000

2.500

Archie View

Distributed thrust

Kinks at load are a function of discretisation

Sharp rise at load is real

Effective strip and Fan

Distribution and span

Shorter span has much less distribution

10m span distributed

thrust

Mid width thrust from

FE

FE and Fan model

Note, FE model has no fill

Shallow 10m span

Skew Bridges

Complex issues
Loads are skewed
Arch is twisted
Can we get a rational flow

Skew Loading

Skew twist

Avoid by using line rather than strip in plan

Skew distribution

Procedure

Position loads and analysis line

Place each load on skew span
Find basic thrust line
Distribute thrust to analysis line
Add and adjust thrusts

Skew view of thrust

Square view

Skew view
Note stretched ring thickness

Load 1 Radial

Load 1 tangential

Requirements

Rational
Satisfy equilibrium
Recognise structural behaviour

Useable
Quick and easy mathematical model

Effective

Differentiate between safe and unsafe

Not too conservative
Provide a guide for rational strengthening

How to get there

Testing

Full scale
Modest loads
Many deflections

Model scale
For this purpose it can be effective

Edges

Spandrel stiffening
Truncated distribution

Internal spandrels

More common than we

sometimes think
Must reduce transverse
distribution
Improve longitudinal behaviour

Internal spandrels
Mostar

Demolition

6m span, spandrels

Multi spans

Distribution continues
Down pier
Into next span

Strip failure unlikely

Skew pier thrust