Abstract Masonry arch bridges often include multiple spans, where adjacent arches and piers interact with each other giving rise to a complex response under traffic loading. Thus, the assumption commonly used in practical assessment that multi-span masonry viaducts behave as a series of independent single-span structures, may not be realistic for many configurations. While several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted to investigate single-span masonry arches and bridges, only limited research has been devoted to the analysis of the response of multi-span masonry bridges. This study investigates numerically masonry arch bridges with multiple spans subjected to vertical loading. For this purpose, an advanced finite element description, which is based upon a mesoscale representation for masonry and accounts for both material and geometric nonlinearities, is employed to shed some light on the actual behaviour of these structural systems. A validation study is first carried out to confirm that the adopted modelling strategy is capable to accurately simulate previous experimental results. Then, the influence of some critical geometrical and mechanical parameters that affect the bridge response is evaluated through a parametric study. The effects of pier settlements and brickwork defects are also investigated, as well as the interaction between adjacent spans through comparisons against the response of single-span counterparts.

中文翻译：

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多跨砌体拱桥的中尺度分析

摘要 砌体拱桥通常包括多个跨度，相邻的拱桥和桥墩相互影响，在交通荷载作用下产生复杂的响应。因此，在实际评估中常用的假设，即多跨砌体高架桥表现为一系列独立的单跨结构，对于许多配置可能不现实。虽然已经进行了一些实验和数值研究来研究单跨砌体拱桥和桥梁，但只有有限的研究致力于分析多跨砌体桥的响应。本研究对承受垂直荷载的多跨度砌体拱桥进行数值研究。为此，高级有限元描述，它基于砌体的中尺度表示并考虑了材料和几何非线性，用于阐明这些结构系统的实际行为。首先进行验证研究以确认所采用的建模策略能够准确模拟先前的实验结果。然后，通过参数研究评估影响桥梁响应的一些关键几何和机械参数的影响。还研究了桥墩沉降和砖砌缺陷的影响，以及通过与单跨对应物的响应进行比较来研究相邻跨之间的相互作用。首先进行验证研究以确认所采用的建模策略能够准确模拟先前的实验结果。然后，通过参数研究评估影响桥梁响应的一些关键几何和机械参数的影响。还研究了桥墩沉降和砖砌缺陷的影响，以及通过与单跨对应物的响应进行比较来研究相邻跨之间的相互作用。首先进行验证研究以确认所采用的建模策略能够准确模拟先前的实验结果。然后，通过参数研究评估影响桥梁响应的一些关键几何和机械参数的影响。还研究了桥墩沉降和砖砌缺陷的影响，以及通过与单跨对应物的响应进行比较来研究相邻跨之间的相互作用。