Arches

STRUCTURAL MECHANICS-III
UNIT-7

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 Contents


Introduction to Three Hinged Arches

General Proof

Parabolic Arch

Circular Arch

Practice Problems

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 Introduction

Arch is a curved structure or humped beam,
primarily bears the applied loads by compression.

The hinge introduced anywhere in the arch makes
the structure determinate as
 Both supports are assumed to be hinged
 Hinge introduced in the arch provides a further equation
to analyze the arch i.e., moment of all forces about
hinge is equal to zero.

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 Introduction

Normally the third hinge is introduced at the top
most point on the arch curve known as crown.

Hinge at Crown

yc= Rise

l = Span 4
 Introduction

One can solve the arch as beam if we know the
horizontal reactions at various supports.


With the help of third hinge, we can easily
determine the horizontal reactions and hence the
arch can be analyzed.

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 Arch Formula’s

Consider an arch ACB, hinged at A, B and C.
 l is the horizontal span and yc is central rise.
C Hinge at Crown

yc= Rise

A B

l = Span 6
 Arch Formula’s
 Obtain the vertical reactions VA and VB at the ends
as usual. To find the horizontal thrust, MC the
moment at central hinge must be zero.

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 General Derivation

To find H the horizontal
thrust, Mc the moment at M c   c  H . yc  0
central hinge C must be c
known. H          (1)
yc

We can find moment at
any cross-section X of M x   x  H . y      (2)
the arch whose
coordinates are (x, y).

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 General Derivation

The vertical and
horizontal actions on the
section, considering the
portion AX arc,

Vertical reaction can be
find out by vertical shear V  VA  W 1  W 2
force at the section as for
a straight horizontal
beam.

Horizontal thrust at both H H
ends is same.
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 General Derivation

P s 
o in
W2 Hc H
s

W1
X C H

yc
y
 A

H
V sin
V
 V

s
P  H cos   V sin       (3) F

o
Vc
F  H sin   V cos       (4) 10
 General Derivation

Draw the tangent at X to
the centre-line of the arch P  H cos   V sin       (3)
and let its inclination to
the horizontal must be . F  H sin   V cos       (4)

Resolving V and H
normally to the section
and tangentially, ( i.e., T  V 2  H 2 ..or.. P 2  F 2  (5)
along the tangent at X)

If the resultant T is
required, use eq.5

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 Parabolic Arch

If the three hinged arch is parabolic in shape and if
it carries a uniformly distributed load over the
entire span,
 every action of the arch will be purely in compression,
 resisting only a normal thrust;
 there will be no shear force nor B. M. at the section.

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 Parabolic Arch

The linear arch for a given load system on an arch
represents the -diagram.

With a uniformly distributed load over the entire
span, the -diagram is a parabola.

The linear arch which is parabolic will, then, have
three points (at the hinges) in common with the
centre-line of the actual arch, which is also
parabolic.

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 Parabolic Arch

The linear arch will therefore be identical with the
actual arch.

For any other loading on a parabolic arch, there
will be three straining actions, P , F and M at any
section.

To obtain the bending moment, it will be necessary
to calculate the rise at any section of the arch.

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 Parabolic Arch
y   .x(l  x);   cons.
l
x  , y  yc
2
l l It may also be noted
yc   . .
2 2 that at quarter
4 yc points, where x=l/4,
  2 the rise = ¾ yc
l
4 yc
y  2 x(l  x)
l
dy 4 yc
 tan   2 (l  2 x)
dx l 15
 Circular Arch
C

X Y

y yc

A B
D
x




O
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 Circular Arch

If the centre-line of the arch is a segment of a circle
of radius R, it is more convenient to have the origin
at D, the middle of the span. Let (x, y) be the
coordinates of a section.

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 Circular Arch
l2
AO  OB  R yc ( 2 R  y c ) 
4
l
AD  DB  AD l
2 sin   
AO 2 R
DC  yc
OD ( R  yc )
OY  OD  DY  ( R  yc )  y cos   
AO R
XY  x x  OX sin   R sin 
OX 2  OY 2  XY 2 y  OY  OD  R cos   R cos 
R 2  x 2  {( R  yc )  y}2 y  R (cos   cos  )
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 Example 01

A three hinged Parabolic arch, at the crown and
springings has a horizontal span of 48ft. It carries
UDL of .75 Ton/ft run over the left hand half of the
span. Rise = 10’. Calculate the
 Reactions
 Normal Thrust
 Shear force and BM at 6, 12, 30ft from left hinge.

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 0.75 ton/ft

yc= 10ft
A
B

l = 48ft

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 Solution
VA = 13.5 T; VB = 4.5 T; H = 10.8 T
y = 5/288*x(48-x),  = 5/288*(48-2x)

x y  cos sin M V P F

6 4.375 32o 0.848 0.529 -20.25 9 13.93 1.91

12 7.5 22o37’ 0.923 0.348 -27 4.5 11.7 0

30 9.66 11o46’ 0.979 0.203 20.25 4.5 11.49 2.2

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 Example 02

Circular arch of span 80 ft with central rise 16 ft is
hinged at crown and supports. Carries a point load
of 10 tons 20ft from left support.
 Reactions
 Normal Thrust
 Maximum and Minimum BM

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 Solution
VA = 7.5 T;
VB = 2.5 T;
H = 6.25 T
yc(2R-yc)=l2/4,
R2=x2+{y+(R-yc)}2

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