THE BEHAVIOUR OF MULTI-SPAN MASONRY ARCH BRIDGES

The paper describes a programme of tests on three large-scale multi-span brickwork arch bridges. In each case it was found, at collapse, that one or more of the spans adjacent to the loaded span were involved in the failure mechanism. It was also found that the critical loading point was not at quarter span, but closer to the crown. The presence of attached spandrel walls had a significant influence on the behaviour and strength of the bridges. The experimental results are found to compare well with theoretical predictions using a rigid block (mechanism) method of analysis, especially when spandrel walls are included in the calculations.