3. VERIFICATION PROCESS

The process which has been undertaken to verify the analytical methods employed by Archtec includes a number of key stands as follows:

1. Evaluation against conventional methods of arch assessment
    
2. Evaluation against published data from full-scale tests of unstrengthened arches carried out by others, including the LINK funded programme.
    
3. Evaluation against full-scale tests by TRL of bridges strengthened by the Archtec method which were specifically commissioned as part of the verification process.

These are covered in the following sections.

Additionally, a philosophy of freezing material parameters for whole series of tests where similar masonry construction has been employed (compressive strength of bricks, mortar type etc.) has been adopted. This makes it impossible to adjust an individual arch analysis within a series without influencing all others. Similarly the analysis of Archtec strengthening follows on from verified and frozen unstrengthened analyses.