Download LimitState:RING User Manual

CHAPTER 13. BRIDGE GEOMETRY
13.3
95
Spans
To edit the geometry of a span, click on the relevant tab to display the dialog in Figure 13.3.
Figure 13.3: Geometry - Span properties
For all span types, there are options to specify the number of blocks (units) used for the span
and the thickness of the ring.
13.3.1
Number of rings
The Type drop-down menu offers a choice from three types of voussoir:
Stone voussoir the span is (or acts as if it were) a single ring of stonework masonry.
Bonded brick the span consists of multiple rings of masonry that act as if they were one (e.g.
if the barrel contains ‘header’ bonded brickwork, where certain bricks are laid ‘end-on’ to
provide a mechanical connection between rings).
Multi-ring (debonded) the rings of a span are modelled as separate entities, separated by frictional contacts (this should be used e.g. if ring separation, also known as ‘delamination’
has occurred).
Note: a multi-ring analysis is often more computationally expensive than a single ring analysis.
13.3.2
Arch type
As well as the type of voussoir, LimitState:RING gives the option to select from several types of
arch shape for each span:
c LimitState Ltd