In this post we announce our discovery of three stone culverts in Glencoe Township, Butler County, Kansas and summarize their characteristics.
Ribbed Arches
Though ribbed arches are usually associated with concrete, it is possible to build a stone arch bridge out of separate parallel arch ribs, thereby saving centering.
Why Stone Arch Bridges?
There are several advantages inherent to the stone arch bridge. Aesthetics, a valuable use of local resources and longevity all are factors in favor of stone arch bridges.
Understanding Longitudinal Cracks in Arches
Longitudinal cracking is a common defect on stone arch bridges. While often not overly serious, under the right conditions this cracking can indicate a major problem.
The Final Tally: Stone Arch Bridges Built by Butler County, Kansas
Here is the number and percentage of stone arch bridges remaining in Butler County, Kansas that were built by the county with similar statistics for each builder.
Lighter Stone Bridges
Stone bridges are inherently quite heavy. This can sometimes cause foundational or arch problems, prompting designers to come up with ingenious solutions.
Choosing Quality Rock
Even with a given type of stone, there can be considerable variation. It helps to recognize some basic signs of poor stone to ensure long-term durability.
Monitoring Stone Bridges
Regular checking on the progress of any and all deterioration of a stone bridge can allow serious problems to be corrected early, saving future expense and trouble.
New Resource Available: Glossary of Stone Arch Bridge Terms
We have now added a glossary of stone arch bridge terms to the start menu. This glossary features descriptions, links and even labeled photographs.
Two New Additions to Our List of Stone Bridges of Butler County, Kansas
We have added two little-known stone culverts to our list of the stone arch bridges of Butler County which we first learned about through newspaper research.
Stone Arch Bridges 