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Seismic fragility curves of as-built single-span masonry arch bridges

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Abstract

Masonry arch bridges are crucial elements in the railway transportation network throughout Europe. Although significant advances in seismic risk assessment of various bridge types have been made by developing fragility curves of generalized classes of structures, there are no comparable tools for masonry arch structures. In this context, this paper presents the construction of seismic fragility curves of single-span masonry bridges according to the limit analysis method. An iterative procedure is implemented to define the capacity curve of the equivalent single degree of freedom system through non-linear kinematic analysis. The process involves determination of the collapse mechanism, calculation of the limit load multiplier, and definition of the thrust line. The intrinsic variability of the seismic action is incorporated with the use of different sets of elastic spectra compatible with EC 8 Type-1 spectrum for various types of soil, with peak ground acceleration varying over the range 0.05–1.5 g. The fragility curves of the generalized classes of single-span masonry bridges are finally obtained from the effective ranges of the main geometric and material parameters affecting arch bridge capacity.

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Acknowledgments

This work represents further development of the study started within the framework of contract RFI No. 145/2010 between the Italian State Railways (RFI) and the university laboratory network for seismic engineering (ReLUIS). The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the RFI. They would also like to thank C. Thiella, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, for his contribution to the analyses.

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  1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Giovanni Tecchio, Marco Donà & Francesca da Porto

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  1. Giovanni Tecchio
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  2. Marco Donà
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  3. Francesca da Porto
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Correspondence to Francesca da Porto.

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Tecchio, G., Donà, M. & da Porto, F. Seismic fragility curves of as-built single-span masonry arch bridges. Bull Earthquake Eng 14, 3099–3124 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-9931-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-016-9931-6

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