Stone Arch Bridges

Tag: Design

  • Stone Bridge of Granite

    Tapered Arches

    Building an arch that is tapered by making the haunches thicker than the crown is a clever way to make a strong bridge without increasing the “hump.”

  • Stone Arch Bridge

    Capping Stone Walls

    The stones atop of a stone wall are fairly easily dislodged, especially for mortarless builds. Here are some ideas to help keep everything in place.

  • NE 110th Street Double Arch Walnut River bridge

    Improving a Stone Arch Bridge’s Serviceability by Strengthening: Part 2

    Here are several ways to strengthen a stone arch bridge, ranging from distributing loads over the arch to relieving the bridge from load altogether.

  • Otter Creek Bridge

    Building Solid Foundations on Weak Ground

    Where a stone arch bridge must be founded on soft ground, there are several simple steps can be taken to prevent settling of the structure.

  • Drystack retaining wall

    Mortarless (Drystack) Retaining Walls

    Mortarless stone retaining walls have to resist the perpetual thrust of the soil they are withholding. Here are several ways this can be done.

  • Drystack Arch

    Mortarless Bridge Maintenance: Part 1

    A key concern when maintaining a mortarless stone arch bridges is how stones can be worked loose by vibration. There are ways to prevent this.

  • 1905 Rock Creek Bridge

    The Keystone

    The keystone, while generally no more important than any other arch stone, does require some special attention to fit properly.

  • Detail of a "Modified Sharp Arch"

    Effective Arch Thickness

    Effective arch thickness is the measure of how much of an arch’s thickness is supporting weight. This means that even imperfect arches can be strong.

  • Cave Spring Branch Turkey Creek Bridge

    Progress in Butler County Stone Arch Bridge Building Part 2

    The last few years of stone arch bridge building in Butler County, Kansas, brought improvements in design which were unique even to the state.