EFFECT OF HORIZONTAL THRUST ON LOAD CAPACITY OF ARCH BRIDGE

Abstract

During the process of concrete structures, linear analysis is used to obtain the cross-sectional forces and moments. This method gives, in some cases, an overestimation of the amount of material needed, such as the reinforcement and concrete amounts. Due to the nature of the material resistance, namely that the material resists larger compressive stresses than tensile stresses, the arch can resist a very large axial force at low eccentricity and significant bending moment in the presence of axial force. Hence we can apply more thrust than designed which can also contribute to stability and load carrying capacity. There were many researches on influence of various parameters like shape of the arch, span to rise ratio, temperature effect on stability and load carrying capacity of arch bridges. But changes in axial thrust, whether increasing or decreasing might also be going to affect the stability and load carrying capacity of the arch bridges on which not much research was done. The purpose of the thesis is to find how changes in Axial Thrust are going. to influence arch bridge. Also, investigation of the economical potential of using axial thrust influence for arch bridge design. The benefit can, in most cases, be seen for slender and compressed concrete structures. Theory for analysis of arch bridge of masonry and concrete is presented. For masonry arch bridges, the effect of various factors which can increase axial thrust thus load carrying capacity are studied. This study explores about concrete arch bridge with increased axial thrust which is applied externally and its analysis using SAP2000. For analysis of masonry arch bridges commercial software RING 2.0 is used. iii