CS 454 Revision 0 7.

Assessment of masonry arches

7. Assessment of masonry arches

Limit state verifications for masonry arches
7.1 At the ULS, the assessment resistance for masonry arches shall be verified to exceed the assessment
load effects in accordance with the basis of assessment set out in Section 3, together with the
requirements in this section regarding:
1) application of actions;
2) material partial factor and condition factor;
3) structural analysis.
7.2 The assessment of masonry arches shall confirm that there is a sufficient live load capacity factor to
avoid the traffic loading reaching levels that can cause further distress and reduce the life of the arch,
according to Equation 7.2.

Equation 7.2 Required live load capacity factor to avoid further distress
C ≥ Cmin
where:
C is the live load capacity factor, defined as the additional factor that can be applied to the
assessment traffic actions (in addition to the partial factors as defined in Section 3)
without causing the assessment action effects to exceed the assessment resistance at
ULS.
Cmin is the value of live load capacity factor that corresponds to the loads frequently reaching
levels that could result in further distress and reduce the life of the arch, taken as
Cmin = 1.2 for normal and restricted traffic or Cmin = 1.5 for abnormal traffic.
ψγ
NOTE 1 The values for Cmin have been derived based on the formulation Cmin = Kγf 3fγL,SLS f L,U LS
where K is the
proportion of the ULS resistance where further distress could occur, assumed here to be K = 0.5 , and
ψ is the proportion of the SLS traffic load that would be frequently experienced, taken as ψ = 0.75 for
normal or restricted traffic. For abnormal traffic, ψ is taken as ψ = 1.0 to align with previous practice.
The values of γf L,SLS and γf L,U LS are the partial factors for traffic loading given in Appendix A, and
γf 3 is the value for masonry arches given in Section 3.
NOTE 2 In previous versions of this document Cmin was included within the ULS partial factor for traffic on
arches.

Application of actions for masonry arch assessment

7.3 The assessment load effects in the arch shall be assessed, including the effects of:
1) dead loads;
2) superimposed dead loads;
3) traffic actions.
NOTE Dead loads and superimposed dead loads can have a relieving effect on masonry arches. Section 3
defines lower partial factors for permanent actions that have a relieving effect.
7.3.1 The characteristic traffic actions for normal traffic on masonry arches should be represented by the axle
loads for the single axle, double axle bogie or triple axle bogies listed in Table 7.3.1a, applied using the
same wheel dimensions, wheel spacings and lane widths as for ALL model 1 as defined in Section 5,
modified by:
1) the conversion factors in Table 7.3.1b;
2) the impact factors, lane factors and traffic flow factors as given for ALL model 1 in Section 5.

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CS 454 Revision 0 7. Assessment of masonry arches

Table 7.3.1a Authorised axle loads and spacings for normal and restricted traffic
Single Double axle bogie Triple axle bogie
Assessment live axle
loading level Axle load Axle load Range of axle Axle load Range of axle
(tonnes) (tonnes) spacing s (m) (tonnes) spacing (m)
8 1.00 ≤ s < 1.30 7 s < 2.60
Normal traffic 11.5 9.5 1.30 ≤ s < 1.80 8 s ≥ 2.60
10 s ≥ 1.80 - -
33 tonnes 11.5 9.5 s ≥ 1.30 - -
26 tonnes 11.5 9.5 s ≥ 1.30 - -
18 tonnes 11.5 - - - -
Fire engines group
10 - - - -
1
13 tonnes 9 - - - -
10 tonnes 7 - - - -
7.5 tonnes 5.5 - - - -
Fire engines group
5 - - - -
2
3 tonnes 2 - - - -
Table 7.3.1b Characteristic axle weight conversion factors for masonry arches
Loading Location Conversion factors
No axle lift-off With axle lift-off
Single axle - 1.0 -
Axle 1 1.0 1.5
Double axle bogie[1]
Axle 2 1.0 0.5
Axle 1 1.0 1.5
Axle 2
Triple axle bogie[2] 1.0 1.0
(middle axle)
Axle 3 1.0 0.5
Note 1: Conversion factor values for axles 1 and 2 of the double-axle bogie are interchangeable.
Note 2: Conversion factor values for axles 1 and 3 of the triple-axle bogie are interchangeable.

7.3.2 Axle lift-off should be assessed where there are any of the following conditions:
1) a vertical road alignment with significant changes from positive to negative gradient over a short
distance (e.g. a humped back bridge);
2) arch located at the bottom of a hill or on a straight length of road where approach speeds are likely
to be high;
3) irregularities in road surface on the arch.
7.3.3 Where the assessment is being carried out specifically for bogies with air or fluid suspension, axle
lift-off may be omitted.
7.3.4 Masonry arches with spans over 20m should be assessed for normal traffic as represented by ALL
model 2 based on a loaded length equal to half of the arch span.
NOTE ALL model 2 is applied separately from the single axle, double axle and triple axle bogies that are
applicable for all spans. Both load models are applicable for spans over 20m.

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CS 454 Revision 0 7. Assessment of masonry arches

7.3.5 Wheel loads should be dispersed through the fill at an angle 2 vertically to 1 horizontally.

Material partial factor and condition factor for masonry arches

7.4 The effects of material degradation and defects in condition shall be included in the assessment of
arches, through the following:

1) the value of the partial factor for material strength γm ;

2) the value of the condition factor Fc ;
3) the analysis model.
7.4.1 Where the effects of material degradation and defects in condition are accounted for through the
analysis model or through the condition factor Fc , the partial factor for material strength γm should be
taken as 1.0.
7.4.2 Where a defect is included in the analysis model, the effect of the defect should not be included in the
value of Fc .
7.5 Where a condition factor is used, the value of Fc shall be determined based on the inspection for
assessment.
NOTE Inspection for assessment is covered in Section 2.
7.5.1 The condition factor Fc should be taken from Equation 7.5.1a:

Equation 7.5.1a Condition factor

Fc = FcM Fj
where:
FcM Arch barrel condition factor based on the guidance in Table 7.5.1a with 0 ≤ FcM ≤ 1.0
Fj Joint factor obtained from Equation 7.5.1b

Equation 7.5.1b Joint factor

Fj = Fw Fd Fmo
where:
Fw Joint width factor obtained from Table 7.5.1b
Fd Joint depth factor obtained from Table 7.5.1c
Fmo Mortar factor obtained from Table 7.5.1d

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CS 454 Revision 0 7. Assessment of masonry arches

Table 7.5.1a Arch barrel condition factor

Arch barrel
condition
Type of cracks Condition/cause of cracks
factor
FcM
Longitudinal cracks can be caused by
differential settlement in the abutments.
Longitudinal cracks that are not already
Wide longitudinal cracks can indicate 0.4 - 0.6[1]
included in the analysis model
that the barrel has broken up into
independent sections. [1]
Lateral cracks or permanent
Lateral cracks or permanent deformations can be caused by partial
deformation of the arch that are not failure of the arch or movement at the 0.6 - 0.8
already included in the analysis model abutments. These faults can be
accompanied by a dip in the parapet.
Diagonal cracks can start near the
Diagonal cracks[3] that are not already sides of the arch at the springings and
0.3 - 0.7
included in the analysis model spread up towards the centre of the
barrel at the crown.
Cracks in spandrel walls near the
Cracks in spandrel walls near quarter
quarter points can indicate flexibility of
points that are not already included in 0.8
the arch barrel over the centre half of
the analysis model
the span.
Only minor defects that are not already Minor defects can include dampness,
included in the analysis model, with no minor cracks or gouging to a few 0.9
significant cracking or deformation individual stones.

Note 1: If the indications are that the barrel is broken up into 1m or less wide sections and this effect
is not included in the analysis model, then FcM = 0.4 .
Note 2: The value of FcM is selected based on the worst type of defect present, and not by
multiplying the factors for several separate defects.
Note 3: Further guidance regarding the effects of diagonal cracks can be found in [Ref 8.I].
Note 4: Further guidance on the arch barrel factor can be found in [Ref 4.I].

Table 7.5.1b Joint width factor

Width of joint Joint width factor
Fw
Joints with widths up to 6mm 1.0
Joints with widths between 6mm and 12.5mm 0.9
Joints with widths over 12.5mm 0.8

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