What makes arch bridges strong

During the life of Roman Empire, they built many wondrous bridges, lengthy aqueducts with multiple arches, bridges with flood openings on the piers, and many others. As centuries went on, medieval architects improved the designs of Romans, creating arch bridges with narrower piers, thinner arch barrels, lower span-rise rations, pointed arches, and increased spans of arches increasing to over 70 meters, most famously on the bridge at Trezzo sull'Adda who was in use from 17th to the end of 18th century.

Renaissance architects infused into arch bridges not only sound engineering, but also fashion of their time, creating some of the most beautiful and famous bridges of the modern human civilization such as Rialto Bridge in Venice.

In the last years, iron, steel and concrete enabled creation of much more ambitious arch bridges which can now be seen in every country in the world.

Home Bridges Facts Arch Bridges. You can span a greater distance when using the arch design for a bridge. When there is a significant distance to span with a bridge, then the arch design is the one that engineers typically use because of the advantages of strength and flexibility that come with this option.

It travels further between two support points than a straight beam does because of how the downward stresses are managed with this option. Not only does this mean you can create a longer deck, but it also means there is more horizontal strength to support heavier loads. The Rossgraben Bridge that is near Bern, Switzerland, is an excellent example of this advantage. Even with the three-hinged design, it provides a medium-length distance that reduces the need for support pillars.

There is a higher level of resistance available with an arch bridge. The curvature of the arch bridge design gives the deck and overall structure more strength than alternative options can provide. If something heavy were to travel across the bridge, then the weight will modify the bridge with a downward, sagging force. Because the two support columns allow for the weight to transfer along the entirety of the structure with consistency, there is less stress placed on the structure over time.

That means communities have fewer problems with wear-and-tear to manage since the equal displacement ensures that the bridge handles thermal and user changes effectively. When we look at the typical arch bridges that are constructed today, most of them are made from either concrete, steel, aluminum, or a combination of those materials.

If you look at the ancient relics left behind by the Romans with this construction, then you will see that even stone has the capability of lasting for a long time when property built. We are even using some of these old structures still today, like in the construction of the Pula Arena in Croatia. The arena was built in the 1st century, and it is one of the largest surviving structures of its type in the world.

It offers two stories of arches built from stone that continues to host concerts, film festivals, and even two professional hockey games over the years. Arches adapt to the local environment better than other designs.

Romans began to build arches after they perfected the design because they realized that the structure could withstand the natural environment better than the traditional pillars or abutments that were in use during that era. It is an advantage of arch bridges that still exists today. This strength means the bridge can withstand natural disasters, such as earthquakes or flooding, with greater certainty. You can still gain the advantage of distance with the span as well with this option.

The arch design for a bridge can actually get stronger as it ages. The arch design for a bridge is already naturally strong, which is why it is such a popular option for tall, lengthy spans. As the structure begins to go through the aging process, this bridge design begins to get stronger. This process helps to distribute the weight of the deck better to the abutments while providing more stability in the crossing surface.

The only way that this advantage is not experienced by a modern bridge is if the structure is made from inferior materials. There are fewer distortions to worry about with an arch bridge. One of the issues that other bridge designs face is a distortion of the support piers over time because of how the load goes across the deck.

When downward force is applied to an arch, then you receive better equality in the process because of the transference effect that exists. This advantage can reduce the ongoing maintenance costs that a community faces when deciding on this design.

A variety of forms are possible with the arch design. Because the arch shape is so effective at carrying loads and spanning distance, there are a variety of forms that are possible for the construction of the bridge. That means engineers have more flexibility available to them when thinking about the overall aesthetics of the structure. You can opt for a lighter, thinner design with a trussed arch if you wish. The Romans often used masonry arches because they could be stacked to provide more height to manage difficult spans.

Bridge designs can also use equilateral points, horseshoes, trefoils, parabolic, triangular, elliptical, and Tudor design elements to create a finished result that is useful and aesthetically beautiful at the same time.

Multiple arches can work together to create stability. It features a three-arch design with supportive cables that carry drivers safely over the water. As such, additional scaffolding or support systems are typically needed.

Modern materials such as steel and prestressed concrete allow us to build far larger arches than the ancient Romans did. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT.