Comparison analysis of bearing capacity of arch bridges, where the influence of the stability is taken into account

Abstract

The structural stability failure is a critical factor for arch bridges which are not transversally braced and that must be considered when the bearing capacity has to be determined. One of the main parameters dictating the behaviour of arched structures in case of loss of stability is their slenderness. Accordingly, structures with high stiffness and low flexibility are expected to have significantly increased bearing capacity. The current paper consists analysis of complex 3-dimensional FE models, where the non – linear behaviour of geometry and materials is considered. The methodology is based on typical for bridge construction geometry, where are used typical cross – sections. The critical forces in the analysis are limited by the bending bearing capacity of the cross – sections. The results provide information about the advantages and disadvantages of the different structural solutions.