Rehabilitation of Historic Railway Masonry Arch Bridge: A Case Study

Abstract This research outlines a case study for the structural rehabilitation of a historic masonry arch bridge. The major part of the railway bridge was destroyed due to high flood. The remaining parts were evaluated from structural point of view. A detailed investigation for the historic and current state of the bridge was performed. A precise description for the structural system, main elements, method of construction, materials used, and internal component was done. Also, 3D finite element analysis was conducted for the proposed rehabilitated bridge in order to identify the level of internal stresses in different structural components of the arch bridge under the effect of dead loads, live loads, wind loads, seismic loads, water flow rate, and temperature changes. The results of the finite element modeling together with the structural studies and investigations were used to develop structural guidelines for the rehabilitation project taking into account the proposed new usage as a historic walkway and the hydrological requirements as a structure over flood flow channel.