Exploiting the resilience of masonry arch bridge infrastructure: a 3D multi-level modelling framework
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Civil and Structural Engineering
Abstract
Masonry arch bridges still form the backbone of the UK's transport infrastructure; approaching 50% of bridge spans on the UK rail and regional highway networks are masonry. However, a number of prominent failures suggest we may be at a tipping point - brought about by a perfect storm of the increasing age of the structures, new traffic loading demands, climate change effects pushing structures to new limits and severely restricted maintenance budgets.
To respond to the challenging times ahead there is a need to develop a much greater understanding of how real bridges behave, moving beyond traditional 2D idealisations and identifying the extent to which bridges are capable of 'autogenously healing' under cycling loading. This is important as, currently, bridge engineers faced with a damaged bridge simply do not have the tools needed to make informed assessment decisions, and may needlessly strengthen or demolish a structure even if it could, in reality, be repaired at comparatively modest cost. The goal is to provide those responsible for the management of bridges with a powerful suite of analysis modelling tools and a robust overarching multi-level framework capable of being applied to the diverse population of masonry arch bridges in-service today (i.e. undamaged, damaged and repaired).
To achieve this a team of experienced researchers with complementary expertise has been assembled. Medium and large-scale experimental tests will be used to develop and validate analysis tools of different levels of sophistication, with high-level, high-fidelity models, capable of simulating the actual masonry bond and material response, used to calibrate novel intermediate-level and lower-level tools suitable for rapid practical assessment.
To respond to the challenging times ahead there is a need to develop a much greater understanding of how real bridges behave, moving beyond traditional 2D idealisations and identifying the extent to which bridges are capable of 'autogenously healing' under cycling loading. This is important as, currently, bridge engineers faced with a damaged bridge simply do not have the tools needed to make informed assessment decisions, and may needlessly strengthen or demolish a structure even if it could, in reality, be repaired at comparatively modest cost. The goal is to provide those responsible for the management of bridges with a powerful suite of analysis modelling tools and a robust overarching multi-level framework capable of being applied to the diverse population of masonry arch bridges in-service today (i.e. undamaged, damaged and repaired).
To achieve this a team of experienced researchers with complementary expertise has been assembled. Medium and large-scale experimental tests will be used to develop and validate analysis tools of different levels of sophistication, with high-level, high-fidelity models, capable of simulating the actual masonry bond and material response, used to calibrate novel intermediate-level and lower-level tools suitable for rapid practical assessment.
Planned Impact
WHO WILL BENEFIT?
Key beneficiaries will be bridge owners and their nominated consultants, including UK consultants engaged in bridge assessment and upgrading work for clients overseas. The general public who ultimately pay for maintenance, refurbishment and renewal of the large numbers of masonry arch bridge spans in the UK through taxation and/or fares, and who use them on a daily basis, will also benefit. Additionally, since many of the research outputs will be widely applicable, a range of other parties should also benefit, for example those engaged in the preservation, conservation and rehabilitation of heritage masonry structures such as fortifications and religious buildings, and the associated tourism industry.
HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT?
The research will provide tools and clear guidance to help reduce the numbers of needless interventions to masonry arch bridges, and also to ensure that required interventions are more sympathetic and appropriate, saving both money and delays to users of transport infrastructure. The UK is a global leader in masonry arch bridge research. The planned programme will help maintain this position, both by providing usable research results and by providing suitably trained individuals (3 PDRAs and 3 PhD students). Clear benefits to industry can be expected to be realised within two years of completion of the research.
WHAT WILL BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT?
Representatives of key stakeholder organisations will participate on the project Steering Group and Advisory Board to ensure the impact of the work is maximised (see partner letters). We will also run a series of three workshops at locations across the UK to disseminate results to practising bridge engineers. These will be supported by the Council of the International Masonry Society (IMS), who have a growing membership of masonry specialists drawn from over 40 countries worldwide.
A key outcome will be an assessment guidance document for use by practitioners, to be published by the respected industry body CIRIA and developed in close collaboration with the industrial partners. A number of industrial partners will also utilise the advanced yet practical assessment tools developed in this project to assess bridges that have hitherto been challenging to assess reliably (e.g. bridges of skew construction and bridges subjected to commonly encountered 3D loading regimes). Advice and feedback obtained will be used to refine the tools and the associated guidance.
Key beneficiaries will be bridge owners and their nominated consultants, including UK consultants engaged in bridge assessment and upgrading work for clients overseas. The general public who ultimately pay for maintenance, refurbishment and renewal of the large numbers of masonry arch bridge spans in the UK through taxation and/or fares, and who use them on a daily basis, will also benefit. Additionally, since many of the research outputs will be widely applicable, a range of other parties should also benefit, for example those engaged in the preservation, conservation and rehabilitation of heritage masonry structures such as fortifications and religious buildings, and the associated tourism industry.
HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT?
The research will provide tools and clear guidance to help reduce the numbers of needless interventions to masonry arch bridges, and also to ensure that required interventions are more sympathetic and appropriate, saving both money and delays to users of transport infrastructure. The UK is a global leader in masonry arch bridge research. The planned programme will help maintain this position, both by providing usable research results and by providing suitably trained individuals (3 PDRAs and 3 PhD students). Clear benefits to industry can be expected to be realised within two years of completion of the research.
WHAT WILL BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT?
Representatives of key stakeholder organisations will participate on the project Steering Group and Advisory Board to ensure the impact of the work is maximised (see partner letters). We will also run a series of three workshops at locations across the UK to disseminate results to practising bridge engineers. These will be supported by the Council of the International Masonry Society (IMS), who have a growing membership of masonry specialists drawn from over 40 countries worldwide.
A key outcome will be an assessment guidance document for use by practitioners, to be published by the respected industry body CIRIA and developed in close collaboration with the industrial partners. A number of industrial partners will also utilise the advanced yet practical assessment tools developed in this project to assess bridges that have hitherto been challenging to assess reliably (e.g. bridges of skew construction and bridges subjected to commonly encountered 3D loading regimes). Advice and feedback obtained will be used to refine the tools and the associated guidance.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- Bridge Owners' Forum (Project Partner)
- Construction Industry Research and Information Association (Project Partner)
- Ramboll (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Highways England (Project Partner)
- Canal and River Trust (Project Partner)
- Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (Project Partner)
- WSP Civils (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- International Union of Railways (Project Partner)
- Aecom (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Mott Macdonald (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- County Surveyors' Society Wales (Project Partner)
- Bill Harvey Associates (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Network Rail (Project Partner)
- Arup Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Baraldi D
(2021)
A Rigid-Beam-Model for studying the dynamic behaviour of cantilever masonry walls
in Structures
D'Altri A
(2019)
Historic Barrel Vaults Undergoing Differential Settlements
in International Journal of Architectural Heritage
Drougkas A
(2021)
Micro-mechanical homogenisation of three-leaf masonry walls under compression
in Engineering Structures
Ferrante A
(2021)
Discontinuous approaches for nonlinear dynamic analyses of an ancient masonry tower
in Engineering Structures
Forgács T
(2021)
Shakedown and dynamic behaviour of masonry arch railway bridges
in Engineering Structures
He L
(2023)
A Python script for discontinuity layout optimization
in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
Kassotakis N
(2023)
Semi-automated discrete-element modelling of arch structures incorporating SfM photogrammetry
in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering History and Heritage
Description | New CIRIA guidance for practitioners, feeding into National Highways bridge assessment code CS454. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Construction,Transport |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | New CIRIA guidance on the assessment of masonry arch bridges (CIRIA C800) |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
Impact | The new PLS calculations contained in CIRIA C800 can now be used in highway bridge assessment in the UK, following the amendment of DMRB CS454 by National Highways in late 2022. |
URL | https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/CIRIA/Item_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=C800 |
Title | Python Script for Discontinuity Layout Optimization |
Description | Simple Python script, as described in the paper 'A Python script for discontinuity layout optimization', Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, by Linwei He, Mattia Schiantella, Matthew Gilbert & Colin C. Smith. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | Is enabling practitioners and researchers to develop their own DLO (discontinuity layout optimization) software. |
URL | https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/software/Python_Script_for_Discontinuity_Layout_Optimization/21... |
Description | CIRIA C800 Launch Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | CIRIA C800 guidance document launch event held at the ICE HQ in London and also live-streamed. YouTube recording has as of March 2024 had around 2000 views. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVJZcxGLj68 |
Description | ERMABI Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Around 70 practitioners and researchers attended a two-day workshop held at Imperial College London to hear about interim findings from the ERMABI (Exploiting the Resilience of Masonry Arch Bridge Infrastructure) EPSRC-funded project; other leading workers active in the field were also invited to speak. The event also included panel discussions to enable practitioners to share there views on pressing challenges in the field. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://ermabi.org/workshop/ |
Description | Presentation at Bridges 2024 Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Delivered invited talk to update practitioners on the fast-running analysis tools that have been developed in the ERMABI research project. Around 100 attendees. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://bridges.tn-events.co.uk/ |
Description | Presentations at UIC Masonry Arch Bridges Workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presented research findings at three workshops organised by the International Union of Railways, UIC. These were held in June 2018 (Madrid), October 2018 (Bristol) and October 2019 (Pecs, Hungary). Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5NLvBpnisg These increased awareness of practitioners and researchers of the research findings. At the event in October 2019 (Pecs, Hungary) details of the new project (EP/T001305/1) were presented. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | https://uic.org/com/uic-e-news/657/article/third-uic-masonry-arch-bridges-workshop-to-be-held-from-1... |