The historical bridge of Plaka: Interpretation of structural behavior and collapse

Abstract

The arched stone bridge of Plaka, built in 1866, is situated in the mountainous region of Epirus, Greece, and it bridges the river Arachtos. A significant part of the bridge, namely the central part of the arch and the east pier, have collapsed on February 1st, 2015, after heavy rainfalls in the region. The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) has mobilized its staff and offered the documentation of the bridge, as well as the preliminary design for its restoration.The bridge was accurately modelled, in terms of geometry and properties of materials. Numerical calculations have revealed the cause of pre-existing damage, as well as the cause of collapse of the bridge.The thorough documentation and the assessment have proven that the bridge, at its original state, was able to safely withstand the actions expected to be exerted on it. Thus, the restoration was performed without alteration of the original structural system, and completed five years after the collapse.