Repair of a historical stone masonry arch bridge

Abstract

This paper describes the procedure adopted in the analysis and design of repair measures of a historical masonry arch bridge, carried out at Universidade do Minho. The bridge under study crosses over Vizela River, near Guimarães. A detailed survey carried out allowed concluding that remedial measures were necessary in order to restore safety. The bridge load capacity was also assessed by means of a simple computational tool based on the limit analysis theory. To assure the safety use of the bridge, by light traffic and people, repair measures were proposed in accordance with the modern principles of intervention in historical structures.