Structural performance of renovated masonry low bridge in Amasya, Turkey

Abstract

Masonry bridges are the vital components of transportation systems. Although these bridges were constructed centuries ago, they have served a purpose from ancient times to the present day. However, the bridges have needed local renovation and therefore have been rebuilt over different periods in many places. This study focuses on Low Bridge, which is an example of renovated masonry bridges in Turkey. It essentially assesses the structural behavior of the masonry bridge and investigates the integrity of the renovated components. For this purpose, the mechanical properties of the bridge material have been primarily evaluated with experimental tests. Then the static, modal and nonlinear time history analyses have been carried out with the use of finite element methods in order to investigate the structural behavior of the current form of the bridge.