The evolutionary analysis of the fracturing process is an effective tool to assess of the structural bearing capacity of masonry arch bridges. Despite their plain basic assumptions, it must be remarked that elastic analysis and plastic or limit analy...
This article presents an analysis of the load-carrying capacity of a historic masonry arch viaduct. The vault was made of bricks and lime-cement mortar. It was built in 1886 and, therefore, its historical character had to be included in the restorati...
Unreinforced masonry structures are susceptible to man-made hazards such as impact and blast loading. However, the literature on this subject mainly focuses on masonry wall behavior, and there is a knowledge gap about the behavior of masonry arches u...
Masonry arch bridges are important structures of road and rail networks around the world. Over several decades of service life, they suffer deterioration and damage. In order to preserve their functioning, it is necessary to carry out a seismic vulne...
Most railway masonry arch bridges were designed according to codes that predate the 1950s; therefore, assessing their load-carrying capacity to comply with current codes is of the utmost importance. Nonetheless, acquiring the necessary information to...
The carrying capacity for vertical loads of well-maintained masonry arch bridges is reasonably high. This might not be the case for horizontal loads, the effects of which have not been the subject of extensive research aside from seismic occurrences....
The great diffusion of masonry arch bridges, sometimes of historical interest, requires the development of simple but effective methodologies for a preliminary but reliable evaluation of their static and seismic capacity. In this paper, the behaviour...
Although only a few of the ancient masonry arch bridges (MABs) are in fairly good condition today, many ancient arch bridges are still in use. Over time, the condition of the masonry bridges declines and the safety requirements change. Therefore, it...
The behaviour of dry-joint masonry arch structures is highly nonlinear and discontinuous since they are composed of individual discrete blocks. These structures are vulnerable to seismic excitations. It is difficult for traditional methods like the s...
Masonry arch bridges form an essential part of existing transport infrastructure around the world, including mainland Europe and the northeastern US. Recent extreme flood events highlight that masonry arch bridges spanning watercourses are vulnerable...
The seismic performance assessment of dry-joint masonry arches is challenging because of their unique structural characteristics. Widely used assessment methods developed for frame-type structures require the use of a material-dependent section respo...
The deterioration of mortar has an adverse impact on the deformation and stress state of the masonry arch dam, after freeze-thaw cycles, in long-term operation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of reinforcement grouting on the s...
Natural disasters are unavoidable and can cause serious damage to bridges, which may lead to catastrophic losses, both human and economic. Therefore, the assessment of bridges exposed to these events is of paramount importance to identify possible mi...
The Hisayamada Dam (22.5 m high, 75.4 m long), constructed in 1924 as a water supply facility, is a masonry arch–gravity concrete dam with a slender arch shape. Although it was the first theoretically designed arch-type dam in Japan, seismic fo...
This research aims to introduce a new technique—off-site and self-form segmental concrete masonry arches fabrication, without the need of construction formwork or centering. The innovative construction method in the current study encompasses tw...
In recent decades, many strengthening interventions on masonry elements were performed by using fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs). These advanced materials proved to be effective to increase the load-carrying capacity of masonry elements and to improv...
In the present paper, a procedure is presented for the evaluation of the safety factor and the limit conditions of masonry arches subject to gravity loadings. The proposed procedure can be considered an extension of Heyman’s method for determining th...
The study presents the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) diagnostic of the clay brick masonry arched staircase in a historic building. Based on the measurements of the existing arched stair flights, 1:1 scale experimental models with and without stair...
The importance of masonry arch bridges as a traffic network element calls for a thorough analysis focused on both structural stability and loading capacity of these historical structures, considering the usage of these bridges in contemporary traffic...
A reliable numerical evaluation of the nonlinear behaviour of historical masonry structures, before and after a seismic retrofitting, is a fundamental issue in the design of the structural retrofitting. Many strengthening techniques have been introdu...
Jacques Heyman’s 1966 article “The Stone Skeleton” has been influential in the assessment of masonry arches in general, including masonry bridges and gothic architecture. Heyman’s article relies on limiting assumptions about a...
This study focuses on an old but still unresolved problem of automatically calibrating the constitutive parameters of discrete element models. Instead of the troublesome and time-consuming manual trial-and-error method, which is typical today, the au...
This article presents an extensive experimental investigation of the dynamic characteristics of three-arch historical masonry bridges, using Operational Modal Analysis (OMA). The research thoroughly characterizes the dynamic behavior of four represen...
The present paper applies the Linear Arch Static Analysis (LASA), which models the masonry material as unilateral, i.e., No-Tension material in the sense of Heyman, and the Safe Theorem of the Limit Analysis to the study of masonry spiral stairs. A c...
A straightforward and versatile numerical approach is proposed for the nonlinear analysis of single and double-curvature masonry structures. The method is designed to broaden accessibility to both experienced and less specialized users. Masonry units...
Segmental arched forms composed of discrete units are among the most common construction systems, ranging from historic masonry vaults to contemporary precast concrete shells. Simple fabrication, transport, and assembly have particularly made these s...
Buttressed arches represent some of the most vulnerable elements in historical masonry buildings under seismic actions. Given their structural, architectural and often artistic importance, it is paramount to investigate effective retrofitting measure...
This study investigates the nonlinear dynamic response of the masonry bridge ‘Ponte delle Torri’ in Spoleto, aiming at assessing the seismic performance of the structure and evaluating the occurring damaging mechanisms. A 3D Finite Element (FE) macro...
Most of the existing masonry bridges have been in service for a significant duration, and as a result of construction limitations, these structures often exhibit intricate geometric defects. Furthermore, under prolonged loading conditions, the rheolo...
In this study, the effect of the variation of the arch form in thickness and height on the bridge was investigated as a numerical analysis. For this purpose, the historic Antik Iscehisar Bridge located in the Iscehisar district of Afyonkarahisar in t...
The paper presents the results of experimental and numerical tests on barrel vaults with backfill material. The thickness, internal span, and rise of the vaults were 125 mm, 2000 mm, and 730 mm, respectively. In experimental studies, vaults with back...
In the present paper, an innovative, recently patented technique for the construction of a curved structural member without scaffolds is proposed and illustrated. It consists of a Hinged Lifting Arch (HLA), using Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bonded...
The cave dwelling is one of the most typical traditional dwellings and green building forms in the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi. The construction of the cave dwelling was built only based on the experience passed down by predecessors, without th...
Trakošćan Castle, built on a rocky peak in the late 13th century, is a cultural heritage site protected as a historical entity by the Republic of Croatia. The Castle is constructed as a highly irregular masonry structure with timber or shallow masonr...
Given that a significant fraction of buildings and architectural heritage in Europe’s historical centers are masonry structures, the selection of proper diagnosis, technological surveys, non-destructive testing, and interpretations of crack and...
Arches and vaults are typical elements of ancient buildings. They are formed by voussoirs that resist the pressure they receive and transmit them through compression forces. The transmission of these forces justifies their curved shape. For this reas...
In this paper, experimental and numerical results of a research project about the structural behavior of strengthened masonry are presented and discussed. The aim of the research is to study the in-plane shear behavior of an old masonry wall with an...
Rammed earth and rubble masonry walls are constructed using raw stones as aggregate and native soil as binding material. To investigate the impact of different configurations on the seismic performance of rammed earth and rubble masonry wall, four wa...
Historic masonry heritages, such as cathedrals, colonnades, and arch bridges, were constructed with individual components (e.g., stones, bricks, other materials) bound together with, e.g., mortar, and they are very vulnerable to foundation settlement...
The damage monitoring and identification of arch bridges provide an important means to ensure the safe operation of arch bridges. At present, many methods have been developed, and the applicability and effectiveness of these methods depend on the dam...
Shallow coal seam mining results in the formation of various bearing structures in key strata, leading to varying degrees of surface subsidence and severe disruption to the surface ecological environment. To investigate the coupled evolution characte...
Dynamic identification using accelerometers is a common technique for measuring the modal frequencies of existing structures. Strategically placing these sensors on a bridge allows for the derivation of its modal parameters through operational modal...
This study investigates the structural behavior of the historical bridge located in the “Yukhari Bash” National Architectural Reserve Zone in Sheki, Azerbaijan, using finite element analysis (FEA) before and after its restoration. The pri...
The structural assessment of masonry construction often requires the use of nonlinear 2D and 3D finite element analysis. This work describes a strategy for using energy outputs from such analyses to accurately assess failure conditions precipitated b...
Domes, vaults and arches are structural components of high vulnerability, due to the horizontal component of the thrust they impose to the supporting vertical elements (piers or walls), accentuated by the asymmetry of loading due to seismic actions....
Bonding of external reinforcement is currently the simplest, fastest, and most popular method of strengthening concrete and masonry structures. Glass and carbon organic fibers are the dominant materials used, but alternatives also include high-streng...
An increasing interest in the preservation of historic structures has produced a need for new methods for reinforcing curved masonry structures, such as arches and vaults. These structures are generally very ancient, have geometries and materials whi...
The construction of the tunnels of Metro Line 4 and Gulou Station in central Nanjing poses a potential threat to the nearby historic building, Gulou Tower, due to the relatively small spacing and the deteriorated structure behaviors. Two aspects are...
Recent seismic events prompted research to develop innovative materials for strengthening and repair of both modern and historic masonry constructions (buildings, bridges, towers) and structural components (walls, arches and vaults, pillars, and colu...
The building sector has a significant impact on the environment due to its unproductive and technologically outdated practices. Although digital tools have emerged as potential solutions, current building practices often lack automation and efficienc...
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