A Flexible Concrete Arch System for Durable Bridges

Masonry arch bridges are one of the oldest forms of bridge construction and have been around for thousands of years. Brick and stone were the original materials used and these bridges have proved to have a high level of durability, as most of them have remained serviceable after hundreds of years. In contrast, many bridges built of modern materials have required extensive repair and strengthening after being in service for a relatively short part of their design life and subsequently unable to meet current European loading standards [1][2]. This paper describes the development of a flexible concrete arch system that has virtually no embedded steel and can be constructed without centring thereby providing a highly durable and cost effective structure.