BAA2113

THEORY OF STRUCTURE
SESSION 2013/2014 SEMESTER I

CHAPTER 6
THREE PINNED ARCH
EN MOHAMMAD AMIRULKHAIRI
BIN ZUBIR

Learning outcomes.
At the end of the lesson, student
should be able to:
Explain the function of arch
Describe the function of arch
Determine the reaction at support
for three arch structure
Determine the internal forces at any
point at arch structure
Draw shear force, axial force and
bending moment diagram

What is the arch ?

Shape
Function
Types
Arches can be polygonal, circular, parabolic,
eliptical and any other curved shape
Arches are shaped to take load above them
and developed only compression
A 3 hinge arch usualy has hinges at 2 springing
and at the crown- it is statically determinate

2 hinged arches are more practical but it is

statically indeterminate

crown
hinge

Springingline

FUNCTIONS OF ARCH

Arches have been used for a very long

time
to
span
large
distance
i.e
bridges/building to carry transverse
loading efficiently.
Arch carries most of the load axially with
bending moment greatly reduced due to
the curvature of the arch

TYPES OF ARCH
Due to support
system

(a)
(a)

(a)

Two-hinge arch

Fixed arch

Three-hinge arch
(a)

Tied arch

TYPES OF ARCH
Due to its
shape

(a)

parabolic arch

(a)

Triangular arch

Equation of parabolic arch

yc=h

L/2

L/2

x
L

y= kx ( L- x Parabolic equation
)
When x = L/2 , y = yc sub into
enq.
yc=k (L/2) ( L- L/2 ) = kL2/4
Therefore

2
then
sub into eqn.
k= 4yc/L2 = 4h/L

y= (4yc/L2 ) ( Lx- x2 )
y= (4h/L2 )( Lx- x2)
simplify

y= (4h/L2 )x
( L- x )
y= (4h/L2 )x ( L- x )

At any point of the arch (parabolic)

dy
dx
4hx
but y 2 ( L x)
L
4hxL 4hx 2
2 2
L
L
4hx 4hx 2

2
L
L
dy 4h 2(4h) x
Slope

dx L
L2
4h 8hx

2
L
L
4h
2 ( L 2 x)
L
Slope

Where, tan -1 slope

Example 1

Calculate the reaction at support A

and B as shown in figure below.

Solution
Draw FBD

Consider the whole structure

130(5) 140(10) 150(15) VB (40) 0

VB 107.5kN

VA 130 140 150 107.5 0

VA 312.5kN

Now, consider segment

CB

107.5(20) H B (8) 0
H B 268.75kN
Hence, H A 268.75kN

The axial force, N shear force, Q and

bending moment, M in the arch rib

Shear force must be parallel to the cross

section surface, whilst the axial force must
be perpendicular to the shear force. The
positive were shown in figure below.

Example 2

Determine the internal forces at the

points D and E in the three hinge
parabolic arch as shown in figure
below.

Solution
Apply equation of equilibrium, consider
the whole structure then taking
moment about A and B.

V A 60kN , VB 20kN

Consider RHS or LHS, take moment about

C is equal to zero

H 40kN

Consider segment CD
4hx
( L x)
L2
4(2.5)(2.5)

(10 2.5)
10 2
1.875m
4h
Slope 2 ( L 2 x)
L
4(2.5)

(10 2(2.5))
10 2
0. 5
yD

tan 1 (0.5)
26.57 o
Resolving in Q direction
Q 40 sin( 26.57) 60 cos(26.57) 40 cos(26.57) 0
Q 0.003kN

Consider segment CD
4hx
( L x)
L2
4(2.5)(2.5)

(10 2.5)
10 2
1.875m
4h
Slope 2 ( L 2 x)
L
4(2.5)

(10 2(2.5))
10 2
0. 5
yD

tan 1 (0.5)
26.57 o
Resolving in N direction
N 40 cos(26.57) 60 sin( 26.57) 40 sin(26.57) 0
N 44.72kN

Consider segment CD
4hx
( L x)
L2
4(2.5)(2.5)

(10 2.5)
10 2
1.875m
4h
Slope 2 ( L 2 x)
L
4(2.5)

(10 2(2.5))
10 2
0. 5
yD

tan 1 (0.5)
26.57 o
Bending moment

2.5
M D 40( ) 60(2.5) 40(1.875) 0
2
M D 25kNm

Example 3

Determine the bending moment at 25

m from the right hand support B and
axial and shear force at point D and E.

Solution

Calculate YE

4(15)(10)
(60 10)
2
60
8.33m

yE

Consider whole structure

M

VB (60) 8(10) 10(20)(10 20) 5(8.33) 0

VB 100.64kN

VA 100.64 8 10(20) 0
VA 107.36kN

Consider RHS of the arch, taking moment at C

is equal to zero.

100.64(30) 10(10)(5) 5(15 8.33) H B (15) 0

H B 165.72kN

H A 165.72 5 0
H A 170.72kN

Calculate the bending moment at 25 m from

support , say point F

4(15)(25)
yF
(60 25)
2
60
14.58m

M F 100.64(25) 165.72(14.58)
5(14.58 8.33) 10(5)(2.5) 0
M F 56.45kNm

At point D (with point load)

Resolving in Q direction
Q 170.72 sin(33.67) 107.36 cos(33.67)
8 cos(33.67) 0
Q 12.03kN
Resolving in N direction
N 170.72 cos(33.67) 107.36 sin(33.67)
8 sin(33.67) 0
N 197.16kN

At point F (with point load)

Resolving in Q direction
Q 100.64 cos(33.67) 165.72 sin(33.67)
5 sin(33.67) 0
Q 10.96kN
Resolving in N direction
N 100.64 sin(33.67) 165.72 cos(33.67)
5 cos(33.67) 0
N 197.87 kN

Example 4
Determine the reactions at supports and
bending moment under the load

Solution
l1
r
1
l2
r2
20
r
1
40
16
r1 4m

y A 16 4 12m

Or
4hx
( L x)
L2
4(16)(10)
yA
(40 10)
40 2
y A 12m
yA

Consider the whole structure. Taking moment

at A is equal zero

80(5) 100(20) VB (30) H B (12) 0

30VB 12 H B 2400 ......................... (i )

Consider RHS, taking moment at C is equal to

zero

100(10) VB (20) H B (16) 0

20VB 16 H B 1000 .......................(ii )

Resolving by using calculator

VB 110 kN
H B 75kN

Apply static equation

VA 110 80 100 0
VA 70kN

H A H B 75kN

Consider LHS, taking moment under load

80kN
4hx
y80 2 ( L x)
L
4(16)(15)

(40 15)
2
40
15m
'
y80
15 12 3m

80

M 80 70(5) 75(3) 0
M 80 125kNm

Consider RHS, taking moment under load

100kN
4hx
y100 2 ( L x)
L
4(16)(10)

(40 10)
2
40
12m

100

M 100 75(12) 110 (10) 0

M 100 200kNm

Example 5

Draw shear force, bending moment and axial

force diagram for the parabolic arch shown in
figure below.

Solution
Summary
Point
A

C
E
B

Axial Force,
N
(kN)
106.32
97.262
(without
load)
66.79
(With load)
78.125
82.207
79.278

Shear
Force, Q
(kN)
21.1
47.63
(without
load)
-47.6
(With load)
-25
-0.006
21.06

Bending
Moment
(kNm)
0

937.5

0
-312.5
0

AFD

SFD

BMD