Forgotten and suffering structures - detailed inspection and finite element analysis of two railroad masonry arches in Poland

The problems of structural response and load capacity estimation of two existing masonry arch railroad bridges located in Szczecin in Poland are described in this paper. The main properties and results of detailed inspection of the structures are shown. Computational models that were created in finite element method environment in order to recreate the behaviour of the bridges under typical loading conditions and estimate their load carrying capacities are presented. The outcomes of several linear and nonlinear static analyses that were conducted for this purpose are discussed. What is more the results of finite element analyses are reviewed against the inspected bridge condition and final conclusions are formulated on that basis.