Bowstring bridges: static behaviour, critical issues and FEM modelling

The present Master’s Thesis paper is aimed at analysing the fundamental characteristics of the static behaviour of structural arch schemes focusing the attention on two critical issues and their respective practical solutions as applied to a real study case. After providing a theoretical and historic overview of arches, two crucial aspects of the design phase of an arch bridge have been chosen and discussed. Thus, the construction project of a real structure is taken into consideration with the purpose of discussing a possible solution to the issues highlighted previously. The study case is identified in the new bowstring bridge crossing the River Enza, in the suburbs of Parma. The static analysis of the structure is carried out comparing the FEM results to the analytical findings.