Tag: Forces
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Hidden Structural Features
Many stone arch bridge feature subtle design features that are tucked away out of sight within the structure, which can greatly complicate rehab and load handling calculations.
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The Importance of Friction
Friction is a crucial factor in stone arch bridge stability, and, when the line of thrust is solidly within the arch, holds the arch stones firmly in place.
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When Walls Bulge
Bulging walls in the approaches and spandrel walls of a stone arch bridge indicate excessive force against them. This type of problem is fairly simply addressed.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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Improving a Stone Arch Bridge’s Serviceability by Strengthening: Part 1
To determine how to strengthen a stone arch bridge, it helps to understand how it behaves when overloaded in order to understand the forces at play.
Stone Arch Bridges 