Solvability and limit analysis of masonry bridges

Abstract

We consider stone bridges with unilateral mortar joints and elastic or rigid stones [1], [2]. Opening or sliding indicates crack initiation and propagation. The ultimate load has been calculated by using a path - following technique. Lack of a solution at a certain level of loading indicates onset of failure, which can be checked by the solvability conditions of the corresponding variational or hemivariational inequality [1]. For validation and comparison the ultimate load is recalculated by the classical collapse mechanism method of Heyman, in a modern implementation with linear programming [3]. The theoretical di.culty of using upper bound style techniques, especially in the presence of friction (in general, nonassociated models), can be followed in [4]. © Springer 2006.