Failure analysis of masonry arch bridges subject to local pier scour

Abstract

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.