Venues

2nd December 09 - MANCHESTER - Britannia Hotel [map]
3rd December 09 - LONDON - Royal Institution of Naval Architects [map]

Time
10:00am - 13:00pm*

*In the afternoon of the same day a seminar on Advances in Geotechnical Limit Analysis will be held. Participants with an interest in both topics are welcome to register for both events.

The various methods which can be used to analyse masonry arch bridges will initially be outlined (e.g. elastic methods; the MEXE method; limit analysis methods; non-linear finite elements etc.), together with a brief overview of the experimental validation work which has been undertaken to underpin their application. Limit analysis methods will then be explored in some detail, using live demonstrations of the LimitState:RING software to illustrate how such methods can be applied to bridges in the field.

Specific LimitState:RING features to be explored will include:

• Multi-span and multi-ring bridge analysis capability
• Ability of software to identify mechanisms involving hinging, sliding and/or material crushing failure
• Railway underbridge analysis capability
• Ability to model localized features (e.g. loss of mortar)
• Use of the support movement analysis feature to model load paths under working loads

Participants will gain an awareness of the range of applicability of existing analysis and assessment tools, and a deeper appreciation of the benefits of modern limit analysis techniques. Additionally the advanced features in LimitState:RING, which enable users to model masonry arch bridges more accurately than has been the case before (in many cases revealing that a bridge has higher capacity than originally thought) will be outlined. All participants will be issued with a CPD certificate recording their attendance.

The seminar is designed to benefit practicing senior bridge engineers, bridge engineers, civil engineers and consultants. Topics will be relevant to both potential and current users of masonry arch analysis software.

The seminar will be delivered by Dr Matthew Gilbert and Dr Colin Smith, both Senior Lecturers at the University of Sheffield and co-founders of LimitState Ltd.

Dr Gilbert is a chartered civil engineer who has a longstanding interest in the behaviour of masonry arch bridges and also in the application of limit state analysis and design methods. He has published many papers in the field and is the originator of the successful RING masonry arch analysis software, now used in over 40 countries worldwide. Dr Smith has a particular interest in soil-structure interaction in arch bridges and is a recipient of the Institution of Civil Engineers' Baker Medal for a published paper which demonstrates the adverse effects of flooding on the load carrying capacity of masonry arch bridges.