CABLES AND ARCHES

1. FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CABLES AND ARCHES [Ref. 01]

1.1 CABLES
 Carry applied loads & develop mostly tensile stresses.
 Loads applied through hangers.
 Cables near the end supporting structures experience bending moments and shear forces

1.2 ARCHES
 Carry applied loads and develop mainly in-plane compressive stresses;
 Loads applied through ribs
 Arch sections near the rib supports
 Arches, other than three-hinged arches, experience bending moments and shear forces

2. CABLE AND ARCH TYPE STRUCTURES EXAMPLE

2.1 CABLE TYPE STRUCTURES

There are two types of cable structures; [Ref. 02]

A. Suspension Type Cable - examples are; [Ref. 02]

 Golden Gate Bridge [Ref. 03]

USA, San Francisco

 Sidu River Bridge [Ref. 03]

Badong Country, China

 Brooklyn Bridge [Ref. 03]

New York City, USA

 Rod El Farag Bridge [Ref. 03]

Cairo, Egypt

 Ben Franklin Bridge [Ref. 03]

 Philadelphia, USA

B. Stayed Type Cable, examples are; [Ref. 02]

 Puente de la Unidad [Ref. 03]

Monterrey, Mexico

 Zhivopisny Bridge [Ref. 03]

Moscow, Russia
 The Twinkle Kisogawa [Ref. 03]

Nagashima-cho, Japan

 Erasmus Bridge [Ref. 03]

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

 Golden Horn Metro Bridge [Ref. 03]

Istanbul, Turkey
2.2 ARCH TYPE STRUCTURES

A. Circular and Semi-Circular Arch

 Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) [Ref. 04]

Nimes, France
 Great Wall of China [Ref. 04]

China
B. Pointed Arch
 Cathedral of St. Michael [Ref. 04]

Brussels, Belgium
C. Parabolic Arch
 Tyne Bridge [Ref. 04]

Tyne, England

D. Catenary Arch
 Gateway Arch [Ref. 04]

St. Louis, USA

E. Depressed Arch
 Layer Marney Tower (Tudor Arch) [Ref. 04]

Essex, England
3. TYPES OF ARCHES [Ref. 03]

Arches are classified based on:

a. Shape
b. Number of Centre’s
c. Workmanship and Materials of construction

A. Based On Shape

Flat Arch

 For flat arch, the intrados is apparently flat and it acts as a base of equilateral triangle
which was formed by the horizontal angle of 600 by skewbacks.
 Even though the intrados is flat but it is given that a slight rise of camber of about 10 to 15
mm per meter width of opening is allowed for small settlements.

 Extrados is also horizontal and flat. These flat arches are generally used for light loads, and
for spans up to 1.5m.

Segment Arch

 This is the basic type of arch used for buildings in which Centre of arch lies below the
springing line.
 In segmental arch, the thrust Transferred in inclined direction to the abutment.
Semi Circular Arch

The shape of arch curve looks like semi-circle and the thrust transferred to the abutments is
perfectly vertical direction since skewback is horizontal. In this type of arch, the Centre lies
exactly on the springing line.

Horse Shoe Arch

Horse Shoe Arch is in the shape of horse shoe which curves more than semi-circle. This is
generally considered for architectural provisions.
Pointed Arch

The other name of pointed arch is Gothic arch. In this type of arch two arcs of circles
are met at the apex hence triangle is formed. This may be either isosceles or
equilateral.

Venetian Arch

Venetian arch is also pointed arch but its crown is deeper than springing’s. It contains four
Centre’s, all located on the springing line.
Florentine Arch

Intrados of arch is in the shape of semi-circle and rest of the arch is similar to Venetian arch. It
has three Centre’s, all located on the springing line.

Relieving Arch

Relieving arch is constructed above flat arch or on a wooden lintel to provide greater strength.
In case of relieving arch, we can replace the decayed wooden lintel easily without disturbing
the stability of structure. The ends of this arch should be carried sufficiently into the
abutments.

Stilted Arch

Stilted Arch consists of a semi-circular arch with two vertical portions at the springing’s. The
Centre of arch lies on the horizontal line through the tops of vertical portions.
 Semi Elliptical Arch

This is a type of arch of semi-ellipse shape and having three or five Centers.

B. Based On Number of Centers

One-centered Arch

Segmental, semi-circular, flat, horse-shoe arches and stilted arches are one centered arches. In
some cases, perfectly circular arch is provided for circular windows which is called as bull’s
eye arch is also come under these category.

Two-centered Arch

Pointed or gothic or lancet arches are generally come under this type.
Three-centered Arch

Semi elliptical and Florentine arches are generally having three number of centers

Four-centered Arch

Venetian arch is a typical example for four-centered arch. Tudor arch is also having four
centers.

Five-centered Arch

A good semi-elliptical shape arch contains five centers.

C. Based On Workmanship and Construction Materials

Stone Arches

 Rubble Arches

Rubble arches are very weak and used only for inferior work. These are used up to spans of
1m. These are made of rubble stones which are hammer dressed, roughly to shape and size
and fixed in cement mortar. Sometimes these are also used as relieving arches up to a
depth of 37.5cm, but these are constructed in one ring. If the depth is more, we can go for
two rings in alternate course of headers and stretchers.

 Ashlar Arches

In this type, the stones are cut to proper shape of voussoirs (a wedge-shaped or tapered
stone used to construct an arch) and fully dressed, joined with cement mortar. Ashlar
stones are also used to make flat arches.
Bricks Arches

 Rough Brick Arches

These are constructed with ordinary bricks without cutting to the shape voussoirs. The arch
curve is provided by forming wedge shaped joints with greater thickness at extrados and
smaller thickness at intrados. So, it looks unattractive. That’s why it is not recommended
for exposed brick works.

 Axed Brick Arches

The bricks are cut into wedge shape with the help of brick axe. So, these are roughly
dressed in shape and size. Hence, Arch formed by these axed bricks is not very pleasant.
 Gauged Brick Arches

In this type arch, bricks are cut to exact shape and size of required voussoir with the help
of wire saw. The bricks are finely dressed and these bricks are joined by lime putty. But,
for gauged brick arches only soft bricks are used.

 Purpose made Brick Arches

The bricks are manufactured, matching with the exact shape and size of voussoirs, to get a
very fine workmanship.
Concrete Arches

 Precast Concrete Arches

In Precast concrete block arches the blocks are cast in molds to the exact shape and size of
voussoirs. For key stone and skewbacks special molds are prepared. These will give good
appearance because of exact shape and size. Cement concrete of 1:2:4 is used.

 Monolithic Concrete Block Arches

Monolithic concrete block arches are suitable for larger span. These are constructed form
cast-in-situ concrete. These may be either plain or reinforced, depending upon the span and
magnitude of loading. Form work is used for casting the arch. The curing is done for 2 to 4
weeks.
4. COMMON PARTS OF AN ARCH [Ref. 06]

Arch is a mechanical arrangement of wedge-shaped blocks of stones or bricks mutually supporting

each other and supported at the end by piers or abutments. In common with lintels, the function of
an arch is to carry the weight of the structure above the opening.

A. Abutment or Pier : It is the part of wall or pier on which the arch rests
B. Arch Ring : It is a course of stones or bricks having a curve similar to
that
of the arch.
C. Intrados or Soffit : It is the under-surface of an arch.
D. Extrados : It is the outer surface of an arch or the outer curve of the arch
ring.
E. Arch Block : The wedge-shaped units forming the arch are known as
 voussoirs or arch stones or arch block.
F. Springing Stone : Springing stone or springer is the first voussoirs at springing
level on either side of the arch.
G. Springing Line : Springing line is an imaginary line joining two springing
points.
H. Crown : Crown is the highest point of the extrados or it is the highest
part of the arch.
I. Key Stone : It is the highest central wedge-shaped block of an arch.
J. Screw Back : It is the surface of the abutment on which the arch rests.
K. Span : Span is the clear horizontal distance between supports.
L. Rise : Rise is the vertical distance between the springing line and
the
highest point on the intrados.
M. Springing Point : Springing points are the points at extremities of the intrados.
N. Depth of Arch : The depth of the arch is the perpendicular distance between
the intrados and the extrados.
O. Haunch : Haunch of the arch is the portion of the arch situated
centrally
between the key and skew backs.
P. Spandril : Spandril is the triangular walling enclosed by the extrados of
the arch, a horizontal line from the crown of the arch and a
perpendicular line from the springing of the outer curves.

REFERENCE

[01] Cable and Arches / https://priodeep.weebly.com/uploads/6/5/4/9/65495087/cable___arches.pdf

[02] Cables Structure Presentation / https://www.slideshare.net/WaseemAkbar4/cable-strucutrespresentation
[03] Suspension Type Cable Wikipedia / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_bridge
[04] Stayed Type Cable Wikipedia / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable-stayed_bridge
[05] Types of Arches / The Constructor / https://theconstructor.org/structures/types-of-arches-construction/11960/
[06] Parts of an Arch / Daily Civil / http://dailycivil.com/components-arch-parts-arch/