Arch bridge

This article is about the structure type. For specific bridges with this name, see Arch Bridge (disambiguation).

Arch bridge

A double-arch stone bridge in Japan
Ancestor	Clapper bridge
Descendant	Truss arch bridge, moon bridge (masonry)
Carries	Pedestrians, vehicles, light rail, heavy rail, water
Span range	short, but often set end-to-end to form a large total length
Material	masonry, concrete, wrought iron, cast iron, timber, structural steel
Movable	No
Design effort	Low
Falsework required	Yes

See also: Category:Deck arch bridges

See also: Timeline of three longest supported deck arch bridge spans

Through arch bridge

Main article: Through arch bridge

See also: Category:Through arch bridges

Cotter Bridge, a through arch bridge that has open spandrels

Tied-arch bridge

Main article: Tied-arch bridge

Also known as a bowstring arch, this type of arch bridge incorporates a tie between two opposite ends of the arch. The tie is usually the deck and is capable of withstanding the horizontal thrust forces which would normally be exerted on the abutments of an arch bridge.

The deck is suspended from the arch. The arch is in compression, in contrast to a suspension bridge where the catenary is in tension. A tied-arch bridge can also be a through arch bridge.

• 
  The deck of the Fremont Bridge goes through the arch, the central span is suspended from and ties the arch, while the side spans of the deck are supported.

Hinged arch bridge

Springing point hinge (left) and crown hinge (right) on a three-hinged arch bridge in Namur, Belgium

Main article: Hinged arch bridge

An arch bridge with hinges incorporated to allow movement between structural elements. A single-hinged bridge has a hinge at the crown of the arch, a two-hinged bridge has hinges at both springing points and a three-hinged bridge has hinged in all three locations.

Gallery

• Different types of arch bridges
• 
  Single-arch bridge Stari most in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina
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  Pointed arch of the Puente del Diablo in Spain
• 
  Alte Nahebrücke (c.1300) supports buildings on its piers
• 
  Krämerbrücke (1325) - longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe.
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  Ponte Santa Trinita. First bridge with elliptic arches
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  Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (2011)
• 
  A masonry moon bridge showing the buttressing approach ramps that take the horizontal thrust of the arch
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  Fredrikstad bridge in Fredrikstad, Norway
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  The Main Street Bridge in Columbus, OH is the only inclined-arch suspension bridge in North America.
• 
  The Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing, China, is the world's longest through arch bridge.
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  Bridge of Arta in Arta, Greece
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  The Garabit Viaduct is a wrought iron truss arch bridge.
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  The dry stone bridge, so called Porta Rosa (4th century BC), in Elea, Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy (2005)
• 
  Bridge in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic (2004)
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  Grosvenor Bridge over the River Dee in Chester, Cheshire, England, U.K. (2007)
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  Union Arch Bridge carrying the Washington Aqueduct and MacArthur Boulevard (formerly named Conduit Road), Cabin John, Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A. (2008)
• 
  Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2007)
• 
  Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2006)
• 
  Woodrow Wilson Bridge carrying Interstate 95 (I-95) and the Capital Beltway over the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.A. (2007)
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  Tyne Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, U.K. (2004)
• 
  Hell Gate Bridge over the East River, New York City, New York, U.S.A.
• 
  Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (2010)
• 
  Daxi River Bridge of Jinhua–Wenzhou High Speed Railway

Use of modern materials

Most modern arch bridges are made from reinforced concrete. This type of bridge is suitable where a temporary centring may be erected to support the forms, reinforcing steel, and uncured concrete. When the concrete is sufficiently set the forms and falseworks are then removed. It is also possible to construct a reinforced concrete arch from precast concrete, where the arch is built in two halves which are then leaned against each other.

Many modern bridges, made of steel or reinforced concrete, often bear some of their load by tension within their structure. This reduces or eliminates the horizontal thrust against the abutments and allows their construction on weaker ground. Structurally and analytically they are not true arches but rather a beam with the shape of an arch. See truss arch bridge for more on this type.

A modern evolution of the arch bridge is the long-span through arch bridge. This has been made possible by the use of light materials that are strong in tension such as steel and prestressed concrete.

See also

• Deck (bridge)
• List of arch bridges by length
• List of longest masonry arch bridge spans
• Natural arch
• Parabolic arch
• Roman bridge
• Skew arch
• Through arch bridge
• Tied arch bridge
• Truss arch bridge

References

• Boyd, Thomas D. (1978), "The Arch and the Vault in Greek Architecture", American Journal of Archaeology, 82 (1): 83–100 (91), doi:10.2307/503797, JSTOR 503797, S2CID 194040597
• Galliazzo, Vittorio (1995), I ponti romani, vol. 1, Treviso: Edizioni Canova, ISBN 88-85066-66-6
• Galliazzo, Vittorio (1994), I ponti romani. Catalogo generale, vol. 2, Treviso: Edizioni Canova, ISBN 88-85066-66-6
• O’Connor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, p. 129, ISBN 0-521-39326-4
• Proske, Dirk (2009), Safety of historical stone arch bridges, Springer, p. 336, ISBN 978-3-540-77616-1

External links

• NOVA Online - Super Bridge - Arch Bridges
• Matsuo Bridge Co. - Arch Bridges
• Historic Bridges of the Midwest
• Historic Arch Railroad Bridges in Western Massachusetts