Brick and Stone Arch analysis 1

[idecharlotte]

I do a lot of engineering for the residential market. I often come across brick and natural stone rubble veneer arches. In the past I have used my own rules of thumb based on basic analysis and knowing what I've seen work and fail in the field. Now I am in a position where the architecture requires a more serious analysis of 6" stone veneer arches . I've looked at HALFEN systems, University of Sheffield, and bia.org. none of which has been useful for my scenarios, that is, shallow veneer arches (rise/span <0.20), span greater than 6 feet. Before resorting to buying a $230 book on the subject, does anyone have a good free program, spreadsheet or resource that can handle any type of masonry? The only thing I can find was written in 1906 and seems quite complex.

http://www.idecharlotte.com

 

[ishvaaag]

The program RING that deals with arches should be state of the art, it seems it can give some consideration to the particular of dovels separately. For analyis in the conventional way you may freely download the set of Mathcad tools

http://www.steeltools.org/STEELTOOL...umentKey=c8251507-22c4-4f4a-8d01-9d8f20c074d8

where you can find at least for your arches (many would assume them doubly-hinged, others 3-hinged or fixed end) the efforts as if they were continuous and then the line action of the compressive force.

For arched action flat lintels you may assume a section of stone within the elevation be the arch and then calculate.

Being made of separate dovels you normally would require the resultant to stay within the central third of depth to not have tensile stresses. Interlock of sound dovels with sound construction may do the rest.

You can also even in more simple way assume continuity in a FEM model in an ordinary program with plates, or depending of the intent, linear members, which can be more or less fine if you plan to cement your arches and the rest of the masonry.

You as well can make false arches and hang the pieces from some edge beam or whatever. There is where Halfen et al can be of more help, they have lots of implements to put and keep pieces of masonry in place, with "dry" construction.

Also, give a look to the technical notes (go to index)...

http://www.gobrick.com/html/frmset_thnt.htm

search for lintels and arches and their notes.

 

[ishvaaag]

The RING site

http://www.ring.shef.ac.uk/

 

[ishvaaag]

er, this one

http://www.masonryarch.com/

 

[miecz]

So BIA Technical Note 31A doesn't do it for you?

 

[idecharlotte]

No, Note 31A or 31c do not apply to long, shallow arches.

http://www.idecharlotte.com