Seismic Rehabilitation of Masonry Arch Bridges Using Post-Tensioning Method

Comprehensive Analysis of masonry structures (e.g, arch bridges as historical monuments) makes important challenges for design engineers, thanks to complexities of behavioral patterns of discontinuities as well traditional construction techniques. Main portion of deformations in masonry units is due to probable movements between masonry blocks. Discrete Element Method (DEM), based on explicit presentation of blocks and joints, is a powerful numerical tool which is able to consider more details on architectural elements of masonry structures. In this research, using 3DEC program, application of DEM in analysis of masonry discontinuous domains is studied. To verify the program, the behavior of some simple structural systems as well as that of some real structures is studied and then, main model of arch bridge is analyzed. In this research, using numerical studies of seismic behavior of masonry arch bridges, time-histories of structure response are obtained to be used in simulation of failure process of structure. Post-tensioning method, as one of the common methods in rehabilitation of slopes and tunnels, is proposed for seismic rehabilitation of masonry arch bridges. The results of this research show the suitability of the proposed method for seismic rehabilitation of masonry arch bridges.