ring2.0 | a rapid analysis tool for masonry arch bridges

Since it's first launch, ring has been used extensively by masonry arch bridge owners, regulatory authorities and major international engineering consultants:

UIC 2007 / 2008

In 2002, the UIC (International Union of Railways) set up an international study group in order to establish information on the ‘state-of-the-art’ of masonry arch railway bridges, develop tools that help optimise the life-cycle management of masonry arch bridges and revise the existing UIC Code 778-3R:

ring2.0 has formed an integral part of this project, being developed to provide engineers with a significantly improved analysis tool for masonry arch bridges. It will be referred to directly in an updated version of UIC778-3R, scheduled to be published later in 2007 or early in 2008.

CIRIA (UK) 2006

In 2006, CIRIA published the report:

'C656: Masonry arch bridges: condition appraisal and remedial treatment.'

The document has many positive things to say about the rigid block method, with ring being the only available software to implement this approach:

‘quick and reliable for a significant range of bridge configurations' (p160)

'a very versatile tool' (p160)

'a significant improvement from basic limit analysis formulations' (p254)

Furthermore, many of the limitations associated with limit analysis which are mentioned in the report do not apply to ring2.0, which can model e.g. movement of the supports, material failure, sliding between voussoirs, slippage between rings and compressive failure modes.

Network Rail (UK) 2001

In 2001 Network Rail (formerly Railtrack) commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to independently study the efficacy of the availabale masonry arch bridge analysis packages. The TRL report concluded that:

‘[ring1.1] gives good results'

'ring, with some investment in an improved solver, would be a very effective tool'

The concern about the slow speed of the solver was quickly addressed (ring1.5 was up to 200 times faster), and ring2.0 has improved things even further. Based on this evidence Network Rail have reported that ring is a suitable program for use to assess masonry arch bridges on the rail network.