Vulnerability Analysis of Critical Points in Three-Hinged Arch and Tie Connection

The codal guidelines for the design of civil engineering structures are mostly based on the overall design of the structure with limited formula-based guidelines to consider the effect of stress concentration. In this study, two vulnerable, isolated infrastructures, namely a three-hinged arch and a tie connection, are modeled and analyzed using ABAQUS. The cross sections of the members originally designed as per IS 456 (2000) for a nominal load of 100kN are re-run for increased loads without increasing the cross-sectional dimensions of the members (but changing other parameters that increase the load-carrying capacity). It is observed that the reinforcement at the crown hinge portion of the three-hinged arch and the notch connecting the members for the tie connection increase in vulnerability for increasing loads and even exceeds the limits of linear analysis, which a civil engineering structure should typically not exceed. The study results are used to arrive at guidelines to be considered for the design of structures.