2-D analysis of arch bridges using an elasto-plastic material model

Simplified seismic assessment of multi-span masonry arch bridges

“…In particular the assessment could be based commonly on limit analysis (Heyman 1982;Gilbert and Melbourne 1994;Boothby 1995) or nonlinear incremental techniques (Audenaert et al 2008;Brencich and De Francesco 2004;Molins and Roca 1998). The kinematic method, based on an adaptation of limit design for masonry structures, has proved to be a conceptually simple and robust procedure to verify the safety of masonry arch bridges under vertical loads.…”

Full 3D homogenization approach to investigate the behavior of masonry arch bridges: The Venice trans-lagoon railway bridge

“…At present, a large amount of literature regarding the analysis up to collapse of masonry arch bridges and masonry arches in general is present [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. However, such literature focuses almost exclusively on 1D/2D problems.…”

“…To have a prediction on displacements in the non-linear range, non-linear FE approaches (ranging from 1D up to full 3D) have thus been used in the recent past [8,[22][23][24]. For complex geometries, FEs models generally require many elements and variables, making the solution of the incremental problem difficult even for small bridges.…”

Upper bound sequential linear programming mesh adaptation scheme for collapse analysis of masonry vaults

“…Limit analysis theorems associated with FEs, both in the static and kinematic version, are still the most effective and widespread procedure to estimate the collapse loads of one dimensional arches [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Indeed, limit analysis combines, on one hand, sufficient insight into collapse mechanisms, ultimate stress distributionsat least in critical sections -and load capacities, and on the other hand, simplicity to be cast into a practical computational tool.…”