Assessment of masonry arches subject to flooding

摘要：英国的交通网络正面临着迫在眉睫的威胁；即其老化的砖石桥梁存量。除了超载等诸多问题外，发生洪涝灾害的可能性越来越大，还需要调查。砖石拱门已被证明是现代基础设施中具有高度弹性的部分，其延长的寿命证明了这一点。因此，上述问题的进一步启发将有助于保护它们，具有巨大的经济、美学和实用价值。本研究旨在将结构健康监测与现有的砌体拱门和防洪领域的实践经验进行优化。因此，人们可以面对不同的挑战并实现多个目标，例如确定最佳监测设备、这些设备的最安全位置、结构适用性的准确预测和成本优化。至于涉及的水浸类型，工作将集中于河流洪水，因为石桥通常是河流的过路处，因此会受到河流水浸的影响。相反，研究的初级阶段不会考虑洪水，但也不会完全忽视洪水。建模将考虑几个问题，其中一些是：由于洪水的不同荷载性质而导致的不同破坏模式的识别、材料特性的变化、既有桥梁的脆弱区域和几何形状、临时防御的实施、不同类型临时防御的最佳选择。针对案例研究，计划与地方当局和桥梁所有者联系。因此，从区域范围开始，人们可能会测试所实施系统的能力。在坎布里亚地区和特定的卡莱尔地区可以确定一个很好的起点，由于存在多条水道和排水系统，有几个砖石拱门被洪水淹没的高危区域。每年铁路和公路连接中断就证明了这一点。

Abstract:The UK transport network is under an imminent threat; namely that of its aging masonry bridge stock. Apart from many issues such as being overloaded, the evermore increasing probability of flooding is in need of investigation. Masonry arches have proved highly resilient parts of modern infrastructure with their prolonged life proof of this. Consequently, further enlightening such as the above issues facilitates protecting them with immense financial, aesthetical and practical benefits.This research aims to develop an optimization between structural health monitoring and existent practical experience in the field of masonry arches and flooding. Thus one can be able to face different challenges and achieve multiple objectives, such as the identification of optimal monitoring devices, the safest location for these, accurate prediction of serviceability of the structure and costs optimization. Concerning the types of flooding involved, the work will be focused on fluvial floods as masonry bridges are usually river crossings and as a consequence effected by river flooding. Pluvial floods, instead, will not be taken into account in a primary stage of the research, but they will not be entirely neglected.Several issues will be considered in the modelling, some of which are: the identification of different failure modes due to different loading nature of floods, material behaviour alterations, vulnerable areas and geometries of existent bridges, the implementation of temporary defences, the best choice of different kinds of temporary defences.Concerning case studies, it is planned to contact local authorities and bridge owners. Thus starting from a regional scale, one could possibly test the ability of the implemented systems. A good starting point could be identified in the region of Cumbria and in specific Carlisle which due to the existence of multiple watercourses and drainage systems there are several high-risk areas of masonry arches being flooding. The annual disruption of rail and road connection being a testament to this.