Numerical Investigation of the 3D Response of Masonry Skew Arches and Bridges

Abstract

This paper investigates the behaviour up to collapse of brick-masonry skew arches and bridges using detailed mesoscale models. The adopted 3D modelling approach is based on an explicit representation of masonry bond employing separate descriptions for units and mortar joints, where material nonlinearity is accounted for using nonlinear interface elements. Computational efficiency is improved with the adoption of domain partitioning, where the analysed structure is decomposed into sub-domains that communicate at the partition boundaries enabling parallel computation. Numerical simulations have been performed on a range of realistic structures with the aim of identifying key behavioural characteristics leading to the development of a profound understanding of the complex 3D behaviour of masonry skew arches. This will eventually result in a realistic evaluation of the actual condition of existing masonry skew bridges, leading to an effective implementation of potential strengthening measures. Moreover, it can also contribute to the development of simplified practical analysis tools for the assessment of these complex structures.