In situ measurement of dead and live load stresses in a masonry arch

The present paper contains the results from an investigation into the dead load and serviceability load stresses within a masonry arch bridge. Contained in the paper is the first reported application of a new extension to the flatjack strain relief testing technique applied to a masonry arch bridge. The field experimental results are compared to numerical analysis, based on a cracking elastic model, where a number of initial stress states are induced in the simulation. The results of the work indicate that a knowledge of the initial stress state is fundamental to any rational approach to serviceability criteria. The good agreement of the predicted stresses and strains with those measured provides enhanced confidence in the use of elastic cracking analysis for the assessment of these complex non-linear structures.