Failure Analysis of Arch Centering

Abstract

In recent decades, a large number of arch bridges have been built in China using a variety of construction methods. The arch-centering construction method without terrain restriction is widely used. The current research is mainly focused on the number of arch ring segments, the concrete pouring sequence, and the pouring method in arch-centering construction. However, little attention has been given to the gap of the arch centering. This paper introduces an arch centering with a span of 115 m that failed during a preloading experiment. The failure process of the arch centering is addressed and the cause is analyzed. Based on the principle of virtual work, the truss element with a gap is proposed to simulate the arch centering. The calculated result correlates well with monitoring data. The results indicate that the main cause of the failure is the inelastic deformation induced by gaps between the pin and hole of the splicing members. To eliminate the impact of gaps and maintain safety, the chords in arch centering must be kept under pressure.