Stone Arch Bridges

Tag: Forces

  • Neer Bridge

    Segmental Arch Bridge Designs

    Segmental arches require care in laying the arch, but can also be used to great advantage, particularly where the stream being spanned is a rock-walled gorge.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • DIY stone arch culvert

    Pros and Cons of Mortarless Masonry

    Mortarless masonry has several construction advantages over its mortared counterparts. However, with these advantages come a greater precision and skill required for long-term durability.

  • Model Roman arch

    The Middle-Third Rule

    The middle-third rule is a classic rule in masonry design. In this post we explain what this rule is, why it is associated with stability, and how it is derived, as well as its limitations.

  • Drystack Wall

    Masonry: Always Moving

    Gravity, aided by natural forces like freeze/thaw cycles, is always at work on a masonry structure either pushing it more firmly in place or pulling it apart. By working with these forces, better structures can be built.