Seismic assessment of a railway masonry arch bridge using sensor-based model updating

A large proportion of Iranian railway bridge assets comprises masonry arch bridges, which have been in service for over 70 years. Seismic assessment such structures is very important, particularly highly seismic regions. This study assesses the performance Veresk bridge, longest network (span length 99 m), spanning a valley 110 m deep, through reliable sensor-based model updating. Dynamic tests are conducted using test train, composed six-axle locomotives and four-axle freight wagons, travels across bridge; vibration response instrumented subsequently measured. high-fidelity three-dimensional finite-element developed updated measured characteristics: mid-span displacements natural frequencies. Finally, performed non-linear static dynamic analyses two hazard levels with return periods 150 1000 It found that, level period years, both give similar results. However, results analysis more conservative.