Paolo Zampieri¹, Nicolò Simoncello¹, and Carlo Pellegrino¹
1)  Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua
Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padua, ITALY
{paolo.zampieri,nicolo.simoncello,carlo.pellegrino}@dicea.unipd.it

Keywords: Safety of masonry arches, Collapse mechanism, Springing settlement, Experiment.

Abstract. Assessment of the structural integrity of masonry arch structures is highly important, as the arch represents the main structural element of many existing constructions (bridges and buildings) both in Europe and around the world. Consequently, the structural behaviour of masonry arches continues to be subject of scientific research. Nonetheless, the structural behaviour of masonry arches undergone a non-horizontal displacement of supports is still partially unexplored. For these reasons, the purpose of this work is to amplify the already available studies in settlement springing of masonry arches analysing no-horizontal settlement condition, to develop the arch behaviour knowledge. Throughout limit analysis and experimental testing, the structural behaviour of masonry arches subjected to a dk settlement of springing on an inclined direction α of 45° is investigated. The analysis procedure used to assess the thrust line and reaction forces of the springing will be described in detail for each incremental displacement value dk, until reaching the condition of complete collapse of the arch. This procedure uses: i) limit analysis in the hypotheses of significant arch displacements, and ii) analysis of thrust lines. Following this, the results of experimental testing on a masonry arch with mortar joints subjected to one of two springings incremental settlement (inclination equal to 45°) will be presented. As will be illustrated, the comparison of analytical results and experimental results demonstrates the great predictive ability of the calculation model developed.