Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering,
University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. BD7 IDP.
ABSTRACT
A numerical method of estimating the strength of masonry arches is presented. The method is based on a mechanism analysis of the arch at collapse with the failure mode idealised as an assemblage of rigid blocks separated by zones of displacement discontinuity; the masonry is assumed to be rigid-perfectly plastic. The shape and position of the fracture lines and the displacement of the rigid blocks of masonry are the variables in the energy equation. Minimisation of the predicted collapse load produces the optimum shape and position of the fracture lines. Comparisons of the predicted collapse loads and crack patterns at failure show good agreement with the results obtained from model tests in the laboratory.
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