Abstract:
Masonry structures, constructed from stone or brick, are an important part of France’s built heritage. Their aesthetics, quality and durability, as well as safety and resource-saving concerns, are all reasons that motivate preservation efforts. However, the heterogeneity and anisotropy of masonry make these structures difficult to model, and a great deal of research is being devoted to the subject around the world. As part of the ANR Menhir project, this PhD work aims to contribute to our understanding of the behavior of stone bridges.
During this seminar, the various approaches employed in the PhD work will be presented in their current state of progress. Experimental aspects will be highlighted through two topics: firstly, the challenge of imaging measurements on structures in real conditions, based on the example of the Osserain bridge demonstration site. Secondly, the development of an experimental test protocol on stone bridge models, from small scale to large scale. Finally, the various numerical modeling solutions will be discussed, with particular emphasis on yield design.
Short bio:
Suzanne Léonard discovered the challenges of preserving masonry structures during her studies in civil engineering. She is currently pursuing this subject with her PhD thesis since 2024 at the Navier laboratory on the evaluation of the load-bearing capacity of existing masonry bridges. She is approaching this subject from a theoretical and numerical angle, using yield design (or limit analysis), as well as from an experimental angle, conducting various test campaigns on bridge models.
