Open AccessSeismic Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Span Existing Masonry Arch Bridge
Author(s) -
Michele D’Amato,
Michelangelo Laterza,
Vito Michele Casamassima
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the open civil engineering journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.249
H-Index - 16
ISSN - 1874-1495
DOI - 10.2174/1874149501711011191
Subject(s) - masonry , bridge (graph theory) , span (engineering) , arch , structural engineering , engineering , arch bridge , forensic engineering , civil engineering , service (business) , economy , medicine , economics
Existing old masonry arch bridges represent an architectural and cultural heritage of inestimable value because most of them were built in the last century and are still in service. They represent a very important part of roads and railways networks, having also an important strategic role. They are actually serving roads characterized by transit loads definitively heavier and more frequent than the ones of the past. Moreover, very often maintenance absence and material worn away, increased by the way by the environmental conditions, accelerate more and more the elements deterioration with a consequent loss of integrity and reduction of their carrying capacity. Methods: In this paper the seismic assessment of an old multi span masonry arch bridge still in service is evaluated. The bridge, located in Southern Italy, was built before the Second World War and crosses the “Cavone” River, from which it takes the name. Results and Conclusion: A series of numerical analyses are performed in order to evaluate its seismic performance and the model sensitivity with respect to the assumed masonry mechanical properties.