Stone Arch Bridges

Category: Construction

  • Grant Bridge

    The Design Flow of a Stone Bridge

    When designing a stone arch bridge, the arch is the key factor around which the rest of the bridge is proportioned. In this post, we describe how the size of various elements of the bridge relate to each other.

  • 4 Lesser-Known Stone Bridges of Kansas

    The Stone Slab Bridge

    Stone slab culverts represent an early and simple way to bridge a gap with stone. However, due to the inherent structural weakness of this design, only small spans are practical, demonstrating the advantages of the arch.

  • Stone arch culvert near Cedarvale

    Load Distribution Within the Arch

    The arch tends to gradually spread narrow loads over a larger area as the forces travel though the arch. In this post we outline why this is and some implications of this fact.

  • stone bridge

    The Spandrel Wall and the Arch

    Stone arch bridges feature spandrel walls in order to create a reasonably level roadway. These walls, however, are also an important structural part of the bridge, allowing it to carry heavier loads.

  • Chautauqua Springs Culvert

    The Stone Bridge: A Continuation of the Ground Itself

    Stone bridges provide a seamless transition between the road causeway and the bridge, by virtue of their construction. The typical stone bridge is essentially a retaining system for road fill.

  • Bushing Hammer

    A Novel Tool: The Bushing Hammer

    The bushing hammer is a specialized masonry tool that is especially useful if working with limestone. Due to its unique design, the bushing hammer is used to smooth surfaces.

  • Independence Road Culvert

    Ashlar-Faced Rubble

    One type of construction often seen in high-end stonework is ashlar-faced rubble masonry. In this type of work, a strong facing of tight-fitting ashlar protects a core made of looser rubble masonry, allowing cost savings.

  • Wolf Creek Bridge

    The Timeless Stone Arch Bridge

    The stone arch bridge remains a form of construction that has never been equaled. Here are some considerations in favor of stone bridges even with modern advances in structures and materials.

  • Cedar Township 337th Road Culvert (1)

    Structural Considerations of Low-Rise Arches

    Low-rise arches make for daring designs with minimal “humps” in the road. However, there are certain structural considerations that need to be seriously taken into account when designing a low-rise arch.