Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Floating Large Woody Debris Impact on a Masonry Arch Bridge

Masonry arch bridges form an essential part of existing transport infrastructure around the world, including mainland Europe and northeastern US. Recent extreme flood events highlight that masonry spanning watercourses are vulnerable to flood-induced hydrodynamic debris impact loads. When flow interacts with bridge superstructure, or without discrete floating debris, a complex interaction is observed. This paper presents both experimental numerical studies investigate this phenomenon, fluid–structure structure–structure interactions. A typical single-span large woody representing tree log investigated. Experimental observations from scaled hydraulic model, in flow, first presented for case where abutment fully submerged. Next, capability method smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulating behaviour observed experiment discussed. Following this, debris-induced pressure–time histories on obtained using SPH model. Results reveal leads significantly more localised load compared situation only.