Abstract

Masonry arch bridges and viaducts form a key component of the railway network in the UK and other European countries. Many of these structures are now approaching 150 years old and are still in active service, carrying passenger or freight trains. They may show signs of distress such as cracking or liveliness under load, but since their serviceability behaviour is often not well understood it can be unclear whether or not this is a cause for concern. Improved understanding is necessary to allow repair and maintenance work to be prioritised across the network and tailored to the conditions of individual bridges. In response, this project consists of two related themes: monitoring work to identify the importance of skew angle in the structural response of masonry arch bridges, as this has not been widely studied in the past, and analysis/interpretation of the serviceability behaviour of masonry arch bridges, with the aim of creating guidance for practicing asset engineers.