In situ measurement of dead and live load stresses in a masonry arch

摘要

The present paper contains the results from an investigation into the dead lad and serviceability load stresses within a masonry arch bridge. Contained in the paper is the first reported application of a new extension to the flatjack strain relief testing technique applied to a masonry arch bridge. The field experimental results are compared to numerical analysis, based on a cracking elastic model, where a number of initial stress states are induced in the simulation. The results of the work indicate that a knowledge of the initial stress state is fundamental to any rational approach to serviceability criteria. The good agreement of the predicted stresses and strains with those measured provides enhanced con- fidence in the use of elastic cracking analysis for the assessment of these complex non-linear structures.