In-situ NDT testing procedure as an integral part of failure analysis of historical masonry arch bridges

Abstract A nineteenth-century masonry arch bridge was analyzed as an illustrative example to explain the role of in-situ test campaigns in failure analysis and retrofit design. Test results were studied to find out the advantages of each technique, with the aim of proposing an optimized in-situ testing procedure. Standard static penetrometer, flat jack, thermographic and georadar in-situ tests were conducted. Traffic effects were analyzed by means of vibrational tests. The experimental analysis performed to investigate damage on the bridge structures shows the degree of reliability offered by each technique in evaluating specific information and reproducing the global behavior of the structure.

[1]  Antonios Giannopoulos,et al.  Numerical modelling and experimental verification of GPR to investigate ring separation in brick masonry arch bridges , 2008 .

[2]  D. Andrew S. Rees,et al.  Crack imaging by scanning pulsed laser spot thermography , 2011 .

[3]  Otello Bergamo,et al.  Retrofitting of the Historic Castagnara Bridge in Padua, Italy, with Fibre Reinforced Plastic Elements , 2014 .

[4]  Fernando I. Rial,et al.  GPR evaluation of the Roman masonry arch bridge of Lugo (Spain) , 2011 .

[5]  Gokhan Kilic,et al.  Integrated health assessment strategy using NDT for reinforced concrete bridges , 2014 .

[6]  Gaetano Russo,et al.  Retrofitting a Short Span Bridge with a Semi-Integral Abutment Bridge: The Treviso Bridge , 2009 .

[7]  Temel Türker,et al.  Finite-Element Analysis and Vibration Testing of a Two-Span Masonry Arch Bridge , 2010 .

[8]  P. Cawley,et al.  Eddy-current induced thermography—probability of detection study of small fatigue cracks in steel, titanium and nickel-based superalloy , 2012 .

[9]  Hazzaa El-Mahmoud,et al.  MICROPILE APPLICATION FOR SEISMIC RETROFIT OF THE RICHMOND-SAN RAFAEL TOLL BRIDGE , 2004 .

[10]  C. S. Manohar,et al.  Safety Assessment of a Masonry Arch Bridge: Field Testing and Simulations , 2013 .

[11]  K. Ravisankar,et al.  Performance Evaluation of a Stone Masonry–Arch Railway Bridge under Increased Axle Loads , 2014 .

[12]  Udaya B. Halabe,et al.  Nondestructive Testing of GFRP Bridge Decks Using Ground Penetrating Radar and Infrared Thermography , 2010 .

[13]  Wmk Roddis,et al.  Principles of Thermography and Radar for Bridge Deck Assessment , 1990 .

[14]  Otello Bergamo,et al.  Experimental analysis of the “Saint Andrea” Masonry Bell Tower in Venice. A new method for the determination of “Tower Global Young’s Modulus E” , 2010 .

[15]  Gianni Bartoli,et al.  Cappella dei Principi in Firenze, Italy: Experimental Analyses and Numerical Modeling for the Investigation of a Local Failure , 2013 .

[16]  Gianluca Vinti,et al.  Enhancement of thermographic images as tool for structural analysis in earthquake engineering , 2015 .

[17]  Michael C. Constantinou,et al.  Study of elastoplastic bridge seismic isolation system , 1997 .

[18]  Howard S. Ward.  Traffic Generated Vibrations and Bridge Integrity , 1984 .