Constitutive-based masonry vault mechanisms.

The objective of the research programme has been to investigate the behaviour of masonry arch vault collapse mechanisms in the context of the problems besetting the national bridge stock. The programme has primarily involved masonry constitutive theoretical studies, supported by laboratory experimentation, which have led to the formulation of novel masonry hinge modelling. The modelling has been developed for practical application in a four hinge masonry vault mechanism analysis and subjected to testing. The technique has been applied in the field supported by a novel application of information technology (IT) image processing, reflecting the growing importance of IT within the construction industry. All theoretical studies have been mounted as micro-computer software with graphics. The accent is upon engineering requirements in practice. Chapter One reviews the context and history of the masonry vault structural form, whose presence has long been commonplace in the United Kingdom, especially on the nation's road network. It is noted that elderly arched road bridges are under continual pressure to carry ever greater loads yet their strength is uncertain. Historically, structural analysts have attempted to resolve the arch's behaviour but present methods are still inexact. Chapter Two describes how, traditionally, masonry has been assumed to possess either a linear stress-strain property or infinite stiffness and strength. An alternative, novel equation for modelling masonry stress-strain laws is presented which may be configured to mimic the behaviour of real materials as well as that of the infinite strength and linear laws it replaces. A numerical analytical procedure has been developed to 'solve' rectangular masonry sections under combined bending and thrust thereby rendering the earlier approximations unnecessary. Chapter Three develops the theme further leading to the numerical determination of limit state hinge characteristics which furnish a static limit state axial thrust/bending moment interaction diagram and a corresponding serviceability limit state, prevention of cracking interaction diagram. Differentiation is thus made possible between hitherto identically-treated though varying natural materials and comparisons made. It is further postulated that any point on a static limit state interaction diagram locus represents a masonry hinge and an extensive series of laboratory model hinge tests is undertaken to demonstrate the point by testing the foregoing theoretical studies. Chapter Four describes the incorporation of the hinge theory into a mechanism-type computer analytical tool. Crucially, the analysis is different from other mechanism analyses by virtue of the hinge modelling, enabling the effects of material properties on arch behaviour to be studied. The software is tested in Chapter Five against prototype data for laboratory model and full size masonry bridges. Chapter Six introduces computer vision, an IT technique that is relatively novel to the structures field. It is adapted to monitor the above laboratory model arch tests and then extended to the monitoring of a multi-span arch bridge test in the field. Computer vision permits the formulation of a hypothesis regarding the unusual mode of failure that occurred and this is supported by a generalisation of the mechanism hinge theory, thereby demonstrating the merits of both techniques. Finally, Chapter Seven draws conclusions on the foregoing and makes suggestions for further work. Supporting documentation is given in the Appendices.