Seismic Performance Assessment of a Masonry Arch Bridge Using Finite Element Method and Retrofitting by FRP

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Bridges are the most important and vulnerable crucial paths that damage them and result in significant financial disadvantages. A great part of the past technical and artistic documents are related to bridges and their construction techniques. Preservation of the historic bridges that are currently in use has particular importance. One of the historic bridges around Tehran that are located in the Firouzkuh fault zone, is Namroud Bridge. In the current study, the Namroud Stone Arc Bridge was investigated under strong ground motions to assess the weak points and to improve its behavior by retrofitting it. For this purpose, the finite element method was used for both modeling and nonlinear analyses under five near-field earthquake records. By recognizing the masonry bridge's weaknesses, FRP material was used to retrofit the bridge. The results reveal that although the studied bridge is vulnerable to earthquakes, it can maintain its stability. Further, the vertical acceleration component has an important effect on the vulnerability of the structure. Adding FRP sheets to the bridge deck was expressively effective whereas in other parts such as piers connection with the spandrel walls, leads to the spread of damage. Also in the location of the small openings, there is no possibility of the desired performance of FRP materials. Thus other methods such as planting rebar, injection, etc. should be used for these areas. Furthermore, it is impossible to use FRP material to achieve an economical and efficient method for retrofitting all bridge parts.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Bień, T. Kamiński, Damages to masonry arch bridges, Wroclaw University of Technology, Institute of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw, Poland, 2007.
  2. E. Beuerman, Inventory of repairing and strengthening techniques for masonry arch bridges, Master's thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2009.
  3. Frunzio, M. Monaco, A. Gesualdo, 3D FEM analysis of a Roman arch bridge, Historical constructions, (2001) 591-598.
  4. Özmen, E. Sayın, Seismic assessment of a historical masonry arch bridge, Journal of Structural Engineering, 1(2) (2018) 95-104.
  5. J. Drygala, J.M. Dulinska, Ł. Bednarz, J. Jasienko, Seismic performance of a masonry arch viaduct subjected to foreshocks and a mainshock, In MATEC Web of Conferences 211, 09003, EDP Sciences, 2018.
  6. Royles, A.W. Hendry, Model Tests of Masonry Arches. Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers Part 2, 1991.
  7. Begimgil, Behaviour of restrained 1.25 m span model masonry arch bridge, In First International Conference on Arch bridges, C. Melbourne, ed., Thomas Telford, Bolton, UK, 321-325, 1995.
  8. E. Boothby, D.E. Domalik, V.A. Dalal, Service load response of masonry arch bridges, Journal of structural engineering, 124(1) (1998) 17-23.
  9. J. Fanning, T.E. Boothby, Three-dimensional modeling and full-scale testing of stone arch bridges, Computers & Structures, 79(29-30) (2001) 2645-2662.
  10. Brencich, S. Donato, Experimental identification of a multi-span masonry bridge: The Tanaro Bridge, Construction and Building Materials, 22(10) (2008) 2087-2099.
  11. Milani, B.L. Paulo, 3D non-linear behavior of masonry arch bridges, Computers & Structures, 110 (2012) 133-150.
  12. Sevim, B. Alemdar, A. Ahmet Can, A. Sezer, B. Fatma, Finite element model calibration effects on the earthquake response of masonry arch bridges, Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 47(7) (2011) 621-634.
  13. Sayın, Y. Calayır, M. Karaton, Nonlinear Seismic Analysis of Historical Uzunok Bridge, Seventh National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 30 May–3 June, Istanbul, Turkey, 2011.
  14. Pelà, A. Alessandra, B. Andrea, Comparison of seismic assessment procedures for masonry arch bridges, Construction and Building Materials, 38 (2013) 381-394.
  15. Sayin, Nonlinear seismic response of a masonry arch bridge, Earthquakes and Structures, 10(2) (2016) 483-494.
  16. Karaton, H. S. Aksoy, E. Sayın, Y. Calayır, Nonlinear seismic performance of a 12th-century historical masonry bridge under different earthquake levels, Engineering Failure Analysis, 79 (2017) 408-421.
  17. Naderi, M. Zekavati, Assessment of seismic behavior stone bridge using a finite element method and discrete element method, Earthquakes and Structures, 14(4) (2018) 297-303.
  18. O. Demirel, A. Aldemir, Simplified Approach for Seismic Performance Assessment of Dry-Joint Masonry Arch Bridges, Buildings, 11(7) (2021), 313.
  19. W. Poole, I.W. Farmer, Consistency and repeatability of Schmidt hammer rebound data during field testing, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science, 17(3) (1980) 167-171.
  20. Jankowiak, T. Lodygowski, Identification of parameters of concrete damage plasticity constitutive model, Foundations of civil and environmental engineering, 6(1) (2005) 53-69.
  21. Road and Railway Bridges Seismic Resistant Design Code; No: 463, Ministry of Roads and Transportation, Deputy of Training, Research and Information Technology, 2008.