Test and Analysis for Ultimate Load-Carrying Capacity of Existing Reinforced Concrete Arch Ribs

Abstract

The structural performance of reinforced concrete bridges gradually deteriorates due to material aging and concrete cracking. Reported here are the experimental investigations and the nonlinear finite-element analysis of two arch ribs removed from a decommissioned bridge and reinstalled in the laboratory. The old bridge had been in service for 28 years. The full-scale static tests for two arch ribs were performed. The load–displacement and load–strain relationships, the residual load-carrying capacity, and the failure form are explored in detail. The structural analysis software Marc is invoked in the theoretical computations. Both geometrical and material nonlinearities are considered. Moreover, the material aging and the structural damage are introduced in the finite-element model. For comparison, the undamaged and geometrically perfect arch rib is analyzed at the same time. A comparison between the experimental and theoretical results is made. It can be concluded that the initial cracks, the reinforcement corrosion, and the variation of the arch axial line shape are the crucial effects for the structural ultimate load-carrying capacity and failure mode.