Historical Arch Bridges Research Articles

Vibration monitoring of masonry bridges to assess damage under changing temperature

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is of utmost importance for the preservation and safe operation of historical arch bridges. This paper presents the development of a SHM strategy aimed at the model-based damage assessment of masonry bridges using frequency data. Structural damage induces natural frequency changes that are strictly related to the damage location. Consequently, a numerical model capable of reproducing the intact dynamic characteristics should allow to simulate damage scenarios, including the observed one, with the anomaly localisation being performed through the similarity between the experimentally detected frequency changes and the numerically simulated ones. The proposed methodology is based on the availability of an appropriate knowledge of the investigated structure, allowing to define a Finite Element (FE) model that accurately reproduces the system dynamic characteristics. Hence, the SHM strategy involves: (a) the use of the calibrated model to simulate different damage scenarios, so that a Damage Location Reference Matrix (DLRM) is defined through the associated frequency shifts; (b) the damage detection through statistical pattern recognition of vibration data; (c) the damage localisation through the comparison between the identified frequency changes and those defined in the DLRM matrix. Pseudo-experimental monitoring data, referring to a historical masonry viaduct, were generated and used to exemplify the reliability and accuracy of the developed algorithms in detecting and localizing damage.

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Stone Arch Bridges by Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis Using Discrete Element Method

ABSTRACT Evaluation of the seismic performance of two historical stone arch bridges of the Iranian rail network is presented using a discrete element method. The total length of the bridges is 66.7 m and 106.1 m. The bridges consist of multi-span arches changing from 5 m to 48.6 m. The incremental dynamic analysis method is used to determine the damage, failure patterns, and acceleration of the collapse threshold. Using the discrete element method after static analysis under gravity load, dynamic analysis of bridges under both horizontal components of the earthquakes was performed simultaneously for different earthquake intensities until collapse. The results showed that the most extensive damage occurred in the smaller bridge with the onset of failures in the top spandrels of the arches and then the piers of the bridge, while in the larger bridge which had a large central arch span, damage and failure occurred more in the central arch and its spandrels. The collapse spectral acceleration of the larger bridge is considerably smaller than the smaller bridge such that the ratio of collapse spectral acceleration of the larger to smaller bridge varies only between 45% to 61%. The low spectral acceleration intensity of collapse indicates more seismic vulnerability of the larger bridge.

Signal Processing Methodology of Response Data from a Historical Arch Bridge toward Reliable Modal Identification

The paper is part of a case study concerning the structural assessment of a historical infrastructure in the local territory, a road three-span reinforced concrete arch bridge over a river, built by the end of World War I (1917). The purpose of the paper is twofold: first, in-situ acquired response data are systematically analysed by specific signal processing techniques, to form a devoted methodological procedure and to extract useful information toward possible interpretation of the current structural conditions; second, the deciphered information is elaborated, in view of obtaining peculiar conceptualisations of detailed features of the structural response, as meant to achieve quantitative descriptions and modelling, for final Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and intervention purposes. The proposed methodology, integrating self-implemented and adapted classical signal processing methods, and refined techniques, such as Wavelet analysis and ARMA models, assembles a rather general, systematic methodological approach to signal processing, highlighting the capability to extract useful and fundamental information from acquired response data, also endowed of a non-stationary character, toward final structural interpretation, identification and modelling, thus enabling for developing a reliable and effective SHM platform, on strategic ageing infrastructures. For the present case study, non-stationary characteristics of the response signals are revealed and flattened out, to identify the underlying fundamental frequencies of the infrastructure and to advance particular interpretations of its current structural behaviour, in forming an enlarging structural consciousness of the bridge at hand.

Effect of Seismic Source Type on the Expected Behavior of Historic Arch Bridges

ABSTRACT Mexico has an important number of cities recognized by the UNESCO as World Heritage Site. Many of them have highway and railway bridges with an important historical value product of the construction techniques and materials implemented in those days. In spite of their importance, very few efforts have been led to study the masonry historic bridges’ origin and pathologies that eventually would conduct to a failure condition. The main objectives of this work are to identify the dynamic properties of the masonry historic bridges, to characterize, in a second stage, bridges pathologies, to develop numerical models that allow the correct identification of the structural components of the bridges and subsequently to identify the damage mechanisms of this type of structures, and finally to evaluate the influence of the epicentral distance and seismic fault on the seismic vulnerability of the bridges. The study determines the dynamic properties of five existing historical bridges by conducting a campaign of ambient vibration tests. These results allowed to calibrate numerical models used to construct fragility curves and to determine the seismic vulnerability of the bridges.

Reliability analysis of Pole Kheshti historical arch bridge under service loads using SFEM

The main purpose of this paper is the probabilistic safety analysis of the historical masonry arch bridges (HMAB) and to calculate its reliability index (RI) using the “probabilistic design system” of the ANSYS software. In evaluating the reliability of bridge, the load-resistance model has been used to express the bridge failure functions. Calculating the RI requires the definition of loads effects on the structure and structure resistance. The load and resistance implicit functions are evaluated by stochastic finite element method and the Monte Carlo method has been used for laboratory simulation. The sampling method is the Latin hypercube sampling. The innovations in this paper is to use the functions dependent on parameters, modulus of elasticity, Poisson ratio, density of materials, and traffic load of bridge deck. The number of random parameters is 19. These random parameters are defined by the Log-normal distribution function. In this paper, the reliability status of bridge is investigated in the ultimate limit state under gravitational loading. The constitutive law of the bridge material is considered to be linear elastic. Three types of compressive, tensile, and allowable deflection are considered as limit states of the present research. The case study of the Pole Kheshti Langroud HMAB showed that the required safety is not provided for the ultimate limit state and the bridge is at risk of failure. The RI of bridge in the tensile limit state is lower than the target RI. The sensitivity analysis of random variables of the load and resistance implicit functions to the deflection and tensile responses is investigated, and random parameters with more impact are specified. In the stress limit state and deflection limit state, the modulus of elasticity and weight per unit volume of the sidewalls have the greatest impact on safety, respectively.

Extending the Life of Historic Concrete Arch Bridges: State of the Art

Open-spandrel, concrete arch bridges were a common bridge design in the United States during the early 1900s. Many of these bridges are now urban landmarks and listed historic structures that local jurisdictions wish to rehabilitate for years to come, including widening of the deck to more safely accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. However, decades of exposure in harsh climates have led to advanced deterioration and reduced load ratings for most extant examples. Furthermore, the original concrete is non-air-entrained, potentially lower-strength, and often chloride-contaminated and deeply carbonated, all of which make the concrete difficult to repair and vulnerable to future deterioration. Further complicating rehabilitation, the height, and arch-reliant behavior of these bridges make construction access, staging, and maintenance of traffic challenges. Drawing upon the authors’ experience with several bridges of this type, this paper discusses best practices and special considerations for investigating and rehabilitating historic concrete arch bridges to extend their life.

Retrofitting of Three Historic Stone Arch Bridges over the Cetina River in Croatia

The basic characteristics of the three historic stone arch bridges over the Cetina River in Croatia are presented first. The bridges are under the protection of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia as valuable architectural heritage. The current state of the bridges is then presented, and the main solution of the renovation and strengthening of the bridges is briefly explained. A conclusion is reached that the renovation of the bridges was performed successfully, with excellent cooperation between the engineers and the conservators.

Debris flow impacts on masonry arch bridges

Debris flows are a mountain hazard and present a risk to bridges in mountainous areas. Designers of modern bridges are able to consider loads related to debris flows but the designs for historical arch bridges lack this possibility. Although historical arch bridges still form a substantial amount of the total number of bridges in mountainous areas, most research investigations for this bridge type have considered vertical loadings; a few studies consider horizontal longitudinal loads but there are no reported investigations into horizontal transversal loads, which is the debris load direction. The research reported in this paper investigated, firstly, the impact force of debris flows against solid structures in terms of miniaturised laboratory tests. A variety of debris parameters was systematically investigated and an impact–force relationship was developed. Secondly, different horizontal transversal impacts on a slightly miniaturised arch were carried out in the laboratory. The behaviour of the arch under this loading was examined using different measurement techniques. Finally, both test results were combined in order to describe the behaviour of arch bridges under such debris flow impacts. Recommendations for engineers are given.

The effect of arch geometry on the structural behavior of masonry bridges

Arch bridges consist of some important components for structural behavior such as arches, sidewalls, filling materials and foundations. But, arches are the most important part for this type of bridges. For this reason, investigation of arch is come into prominence. In this paper, it is aimed to investigate the arch thickness effect on the structural behavior of masonry arch bridges. For this purpose, Goderni historical arch bridge which was located in Kulp town, Diyarbakir, Turkey and the bridge restoration process has still continued is selected as an application. The construction year of the bridge is not fully known, but the date is estimated to be the second half of the 19th century. The bridge has two arches with the 0.52 cm and 0.69 cm arch thickness, respectively. Finite element model of the bridge is constructed with ANSYS software to reflect the current situation using relievo drawings. Then the arch thickness is changed by increasing and decreasing respectively and finite element models are reconstructed. The structural responses of the bridge are obtained for all arch thickness under dead load and live load. Maximum displacements, maximum-minimum principal stresses and maximum-minimum elastic strains are given with detail using contours diagrams and compared with each other to determine the arch thickness effect. At the end of the study, it is seen that the maximum displacements, tensile stresses and strains have a decreasing trend, but compressive stress and strain have an increasing trend by the increasing of arch thickness.

Ambient vibration testing and seismic behavior of historical arch bridges under near and far fault ground motions

This study investigates the effects of near and far fault ground motion on the seismic behavior of historical arch bridges through a combined numerical and experi- mental evaluation. The approach undertaken begins with finite element modeling of the arch bridge and identification of the most significant vibration modes of the bridge through ambient vibration testing. Uncertain parameters of the finite element model are then revised through systematic comparisons of the measured vibration models to those that are predicted by the model. The revised finite element model is used to predict the time history response for displacements and stresses through which the effect of the finite element model updating on model predictions are evaluated. Furthermore, displacements and stresses obtained considering both near and far fault ground motions are then compared. Results indicate that near fault ground motion imposes higher seismic demand on the arch bridge observed in both higher displacements and stresses.

Structural Health Monitoring Using Wireless Technologies: An Ambient Vibration Test on the Adolphe Bridge, Luxembourg City

Major threats to bridges primarily consist of the aging of the structural elements, earthquake-induced shaking and standing waves generated by windstorms. The necessity of information on the state of health of structures in real-time, allowing for timely warnings in the case of damaging events, requires structural health monitoring (SHM) systems that allow the risks of these threats to be mitigated. Here we present the results of a short-duration experiment carried out with low-cost wireless instruments for monitoring the vibration characteristics and dynamic properties of a strategic civil infrastructure, the Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg City. The Adolphe Bridge is a masonry arch construction dating from 1903 and will undergo major renovation works in the upcoming years. Our experiment shows that a network of these wireless sensing units is well suited to monitor the vibration characteristics of such a historical arch bridge and hence represents a low-cost and efficient solution for SHM.

Historical arch bridges in Hamedan province, Iran

Iran, one of the oldest countries in the world, is home to a number of historic arch bridges. Hamedan was the kingdom’s first capital city and contains monuments, buildings and bridges of great cultural heritage. Arch bridges in Hamedan province date from some 400 years ago. Despite natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, some of these bridges exist and are still used today. This paper describes some of the most important masonry arch bridges in the province. Related information about their engineering history, construction method, materials, foundations, cut waters and geometric data is also presented. The paper introduces the Iranian mortar called ‘sarooj’, which contains innovative components and is diverse in variety and applications. Interesting aspects of cut waters resulting from the integrity of ancient Iranian designers’ knowledge are also mentioned. The paper also indicates the rehabilitation and repair programmes that have been carried out to safeguard these valuable historical bridges against failure.

Vibration-based operational modal analysis of the Mikron historic arch bridge after restoration

This research presents finite element modelling, vibration-based operational modal analysis, and finite element model updating of a restored historic arch bridge. Mikron historic bridge, constructed on Fırtına River in Rize, Turkey, is the subject of this case study. The General Directorate for Highways of Turkey repaired the bridge's main structural elements, arches, sidewalls, and filler material in 1998. To construct a 3D finite element model of the bridge, ANSYS finite element software estimated the analytical dynamic characteristics. Induced ambient vibrations such as human walking and wind excited the model bridge to allow measurement of the bridge's responses. Enhanced frequency domain decomposition in frequency domain and stochastic subspace identification in time domain methodologies extracted experimental dynamic characteristics. A comparison of the analytical and experimental results showed significant agreement between mode shapes, but some differences in natural frequencies appeared. Consequently, updating the finite element model of the bridge by changing boundary conditions minimised the differences between analytical and experimental natural frequencies. After the finite element model updating process, the differences between natural frequencies declined from 7% to 2%.

Finite element model calibration effects on the earthquake response of masonry arch bridges

The focus of this paper is to illustrate the importance of model calibration and in situ vibration testing by comparing the finite element model predictions of the earthquake response of the two historical arch bridges, Osmanlı and Şenyuva, before and after model calibration. The three-dimensional finite element models of these two arch bridges, built in the ANSYS finite element program, are used to predict bridge dynamic characteristics, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. Following the analytical study, ambient vibration tests were conducted to experimentally obtain dynamic characteristics of these two bridges. During ambient vibration tests, accelerometers were placed at several points on the bridge to collect the vibration response due to natural and operational excitation sources. Enhanced frequency domain decomposition and stochastic subspace identification techniques were used to extract the experimental natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. Finite element models of the two arch bridges were adjusted such that the model predictions reproduce the ambient vibration test results with increased fidelity. The behavior of the masonry arch bridges under earthquake excitation recorded during the Erzincan Earthquake in 1992 is simulated by both the initial and adjusted finite element models. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of model calibration and ambient vibration testing.

Assessment of nonlinear seismic performance of a restored historical arch bridge using ambient vibrations

Historic masonry arch bridges are vital components of transportation systems in many countries worldwide, ensuring the ready access of goods and services to millions of people. The structural failure of these historic structures would severely and adversely impact the economies of these nations due to the massive disruptions of transportation systems accompanying such failures. To successfully maintain these aging masonry structures, performance assessment must incorporate the unique mechanical characteristics of masonry. Therefore, the preferred analysis technique must go beyond a linear approach. This study assesses the earthquake performance of a restored historical masonry arch bridge through nonlinear finite element analysis incorporating the Drucker–Prager damage criterion. The case study structure is the Mikron Arch Bridge, a nineteenth century Ottoman Era structure built over the Firtina River near Rize, Turkey, and restored in 1998. The Mikron Arch Bridge was first subjected to ambient vibration testing, during which accelerometers were placed at several points on the bridge span to record the bridge vibratory response. The investigators then used Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification techniques to extract the experimental natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios from these measurements. Experimental results were compared with those obtained by the linear finite element analysis of the bridge. Good agreement between mode shapes was observed during this comparison, though natural frequencies disagree by 8–10%. The boundary conditions of the linear finite element model of Mikron Arch Bridge are adjusted such that the analytical predictions agree with the ambient vibration test results. By introducing the Drucker–Prager damage criterion, the calibrated linear FE model was next extended into a nonlinear model. Nonlinear analysis of seismic behavior of Mikron arch bridge was performed considering the acceleration record of Erzincan earthquake in 1992 that occurred near the Mikron Bridge region. The displacement and stress results were observed to be allowable level of the stone material. Moreover, linear FE model calibrations elicited a significant influence on the nonlinear FE model simulations.

Finite Element Model Updating of Senyuva Historical Arch Bridge Using Ambient Vibration Tests

This paper describes a historical arch bridge; its analytical modeling, modal testing and finite element model (FEM) updating. For this purpose, Senyuva historical arch bridge which is built in 1696 and located in Camlihemsin, Rize, Turkey, is selected as an application. 3D FEM of the bridge is modeled using ANSYS software to obtain analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. Then, operational modal analysis using ambient vibrations is performed to attain dynamic characteristics experimentally. Human walking and wind are used as natural excitation. The output-only modal parameter identification is carried out using the Peak Picking method in frequency domain and the Stochastic Subspace Identification method in time domain. After, analytically and experimentally identified dynamic characteristics compared with each other and FEM of the historical bridge is updated to minimize the differences between modal parameters by changing uncertain modeling parameters such as boundary conditions. As a result, differences between the natural frequencies are reduced from 27% to 3% and good agreement is found between analytical and experimental dynamic characteristics after FEM updating.

Modelling masonry arches shape using terrestrial laser scanning data and nonparametric methods

Since masonry arch is one of the most common structural forms in both historic bridges and in architecture across the world such as domes and vaults, its dimensional and structural analysis is still the subject of numerous investigations. Controlling the deformation in historic arch bridges involves a number of difficulties arising from the measurement technique and the analysis methodology. Important advances have been made on terrestrial laser scanning technology to allow measuring the 3D geometry of objects without making direct contact with them with very high rates of data acquisition, high accuracy and long range. However, the development of computer algorithms to automate the analysis of the clouds of points would be useful to take advantage of the potential of this technique in the field of dimensional and structural analysis of historic bridges. This article presents a methodology to estimate the deformation of arches or vaults based on the symmetry of sections obtained along the vault guideline. The accurate geometry of the arches is obtained by means of a 3D laser scanner survey, and the point cloud is processed by statistical nonparametric methods based on local bivariate kernel smoothers, allowing estimation of arch cross-sections without establishing any parametric shape a priori.

Turkish historical arch bridges and their deteriorations and failures

Preservation and conservation of historical structures are the major points for the continuity of history. Therefore, in order to develop suitable restoration projects without neglecting any of the unique cultural values, it is very important to determine the present conditions of these structures. In this paper, it is aimed to present architectural and engineering properties of Turkish historical arch bridges. For this purpose, deteriorations in construction materials, damage and failure patterns occurred in the masonry arch bridges are classified and discussed using some illustrated photos. Some restoration practices for the bridges have been carried out by Turkish General Directorate of Highways are briefly discussed.