Non-linear Analysis of Bridge “Guglie” in Venice: Sensitivity to Designed and Realized Shape

In this paper, numerical non-linear analyses of the “Guglie” bridge, located in the historical city of Venice (Italy), are proposed. The focus is twofold: on the sensitivity of the realized shape of the bridge by reference to originally designed shape; and on sensitivity to mechanical parameters of constituent materials. The history of this bridge is very interesting, and the bridge actually built is different from the Marchesini’s project (1580). In fact, in the original design drawing, the shape of the arch is a perfect circle arch, while the shape of the actually built arch is not perfectly circular. Hence, in the aim to evaluate sensitivity of bridge behaviour to designed and realized shape, non-linear analyses are carried on by means of FEMs (Finite Element Models) under in-plane state hypothesis. Furthermore, parametric tests are also performed for evaluating the influence of masonry mechanical parameters on non-linear bridge behaviour.