Segmental arches allow an arch bridge to achieve long spans without excessive rises, but require the ends of the arch to be firmly secured.
Category Archives: Construction
On Roman Arches
The Roman arch is a half-round arch shape and is a sturdy choice for small spans. Due to its rise and thrust lines a Roman arch has its limitations.
Building Stone Arch Bridges: Masonry Basics
Some of the basic rules of masonry, which, if followed, help ensure the successful building of a sturdy stone bridge or other stone structure.
Stone Arch Bridges: Who Built It?
The stone masons and contractors who built stone arch bridges in an area, such as Kansas, usually had their own recognizable style of workmanship.
How a Stone Arch Bridge Supports Weight
An arch supports weight by controlling the forces at play in such a manner that they are actually used to strengthen the arch’s spanning abilities.
Stone Arch Bridges: Spans and How Many?
The pros and cons and design logic behind multi-span stone arch bridges. Multi-span arch bridges are often necessary for spanning wide streams.
Building a Stone Arch Bridge
The basic process for determining where and how to build a stone arch bridge, with the DIY enthusiast kept specifically in mind.
The Hydraulic Properties of Stone Arch Bridges
Stone arch bridges, like any other bridge, need to be designed with the properties of the stream they are to span kept in mind to ensure long life.
Building Stone Arch Bridges: Arch Thickness
The thickness of an arch is determined by the arch’s type, span and masonry, with thicker arches generally being both forgiving and stronger.
The Choice of Stone for Stone Arch Bridges
While the stone for an arch bridge is generally reflective of local geology, different types of stone perform better in different parts of the bridge.
