Failure analysis of masonry arch bridges subject to local pier scour

In European roadway and railway networks, many multi-span unreinforced arch bridges were built in the last century. These structures are often characterized by piers with shallow foundations placed in the riverbed, which can be subject to hydrodynamic turbulences in case of river floods and further...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEngineering failure analysis Vol. 79; pp. 371 - 384
Main Authors Zampieri, Paolo, Zanini, Mariano Angelo, Faleschini, Flora, Hofer, Lorenzo, Pellegrino, Carlo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2017
Subjects
Failure analysis
Flood
Local scour
Masonry arch bridges
Pier settlement
Pier settlement
Local scour
Flood
Masonry arch bridges
Failure analysis
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Summary:In European roadway and railway networks, many multi-span unreinforced arch bridges were built in the last century. These structures are often characterized by piers with shallow foundations placed in the riverbed, which can be subject to hydrodynamic turbulences in case of river floods and further localized scour phenomena. The lack of adequate monitoring can cause scour-induced settlements over time, potentially causing bridge structural failure. This work investigates the structural behavior of existing masonry bridges subject to local pier scour. A case study is used to carry out the failure analysis, simulating the evolution of the structural behavior of a six-span masonry arch bridge with a finite element model, correlated with the local scour profile. •A failure analysis of a masonry arch bridge subject to local scour is presented.•Symmetrical and non-symmetrical scouring layouts were implemented.•Soil-structure finite element models allowed to derive main collapse mechanisms.•Structural damages were linked to significant local scour profiles.
ISSN:1350-6307
1873-1961
DOI:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.05.028