Stone Arch Bridges

Tag: Spandrel Walls

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Deteriorated Stonework

    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.

  • Old Island Park Bridge

    A Cowley County Stone Arch Bridge Before Its Time: The Island Park Bridge

    Before Cowley County, Kansas began building its famous stone arch bridges in earnest, the city of Winfield built one at the entrance of Island Park.

  • Detail of Walz Ford Bridge Arch

    Arch Building Simplified: Walter Sharp’s Secret to Building Stone Arch Bridges

    Walter Sharp, the famous stone arch bridge builder of Cowley County, Kansas, had a simple secret he used to build stone arches quickly and inexpensively.

  • NE160th Street May Branch Whitewater River Bridge

    On Spandrel Walls

    The spandrel walls hold the fill of a stone arch bridge, and need to be correctly engineered to do so without gradually bulging and failing.