Knowledge (XXG)

Inverted arch

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97: 245: 20: 58:, the inverted arch is not used to support a load, as for a bridge, but rather to resist sideways, inwards loads. The conventional arch supports a vertical load downwards on the centre of the arch and translates this into forces both downwards and outwards at the base of the arch. In most cases, this sideways force is a nuisance and must be resisted by either strong foundations or a further 'bowstring' girder, in the form of a 107:
A further use of inverted arches is to support lengthways forces from another arch, such as a bridge or viaduct. This is often done on poor ground, to reduce the ground loading otherwise there is need for extensive foundations. In the simplest case, the arches simply spread the downwards loads of
286: 244: 127:. The arch provides a foundation for the walls and can resist the sideways forces upon them. The retaining wall also provides the vertical load needed by the arch. 73:
are built as an afterthought, had to fit into the space available, and thus sometimes include the inverted components). They have often been applied to
116:. Inverted arches have also been added to existing bridges, to reinforce them after their banks start to slide inwards. Such a repair was applied to 96: 279: 226: 310: 272: 252: 189: 85:
that must be supported even when they are empty of water that could otherwise resist the sidethrust of their walls. Some
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viaduct piers into a wider ground area, exactly as for an inverted arch bridge. Such arches were used beneath the
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Inverted arches are used where sideways forces must be restrained, and where space is most easily available
82: 109: 218: 222: 185: 113: 40: 256: 214: 59: 117: 100: 90: 74: 24: 124: 299: 70: 136: 86: 78: 55: 48: 77:, but are perhaps most distinctively used as the base of docks, particularly 95: 18: 44: 103:
in 1974, during the construction of the concrete inverted arch
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tunnel, where the lower section forms an invert for strength.
184:. Vol. 1: The Early Years. History Press. p. 65. 260: 209:
Woodman, Francis; Bloom, Jonathan M. (2003). "Arch".
123:Inverted arches are often used in conjunction with 280: 8: 167: 155: 16:Engineering structure to resist inward loads 287: 273: 219:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t003657 89:were built oval in section, such as the 23:"Scissors" strainer arch arrangement in 148: 180:Burton, Anthony; Platt, Derek (2001). 47:, inverted in comparison to the usual 43:structure in the form of an inverted 7: 241: 239: 259:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by 14: 69:a construction (for example, the 243: 1: 311:Architectural element stubs 213:. Oxford University Press. 327: 238: 27:includes an inverted arch 168:Woodman & Bloom 2003 156:Woodman & Bloom 2003 255:–related article is a 104: 28: 253:architectural element 182:The Anatomy of Canals 99: 22: 112:, on the advice of 110:Hownes Gill Viaduct 105: 29: 306:Arches and vaults 268: 267: 228:978-1-884446-05-4 211:Oxford Art Online 114:Robert Stephenson 41:civil engineering 318: 289: 282: 275: 247: 240: 232: 196: 195: 177: 171: 165: 159: 153: 75:railway cuttings 60:tied-arch bridge 326: 325: 321: 320: 319: 317: 316: 315: 296: 295: 294: 293: 236: 229: 208: 205: 200: 199: 192: 179: 178: 174: 166: 162: 154: 150: 145: 133: 125:retaining walls 118:The Iron Bridge 101:The Iron Bridge 91:Newbold-on-Avon 71:strainer arches 25:Wells Cathedral 17: 12: 11: 5: 324: 322: 314: 313: 308: 298: 297: 292: 291: 284: 277: 269: 266: 265: 248: 234: 233: 227: 204: 201: 198: 197: 190: 172: 160: 147: 146: 144: 141: 140: 139: 132: 129: 120:in the 1970s. 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 323: 312: 309: 307: 304: 303: 301: 290: 285: 283: 278: 276: 271: 270: 264: 262: 258: 254: 249: 246: 242: 237: 230: 224: 220: 216: 212: 207: 206: 202: 193: 187: 183: 176: 173: 169: 164: 161: 157: 152: 149: 142: 138: 135: 134: 130: 128: 126: 121: 119: 115: 111: 102: 98: 94: 92: 88: 87:canal tunnels 84: 80: 76: 72: 68: 63: 61: 57: 52: 50: 46: 42: 38: 34: 33:inverted arch 26: 21: 261:expanding it 250: 235: 210: 181: 175: 163: 151: 137:Counter-arch 122: 106: 66: 64: 53: 36: 32: 30: 170:, Strainer. 158:, Inverted. 56:flying arch 49:arch bridge 300:Categories 191:0752421379 143:References 79:dry docks 54:Like the 131:See also 203:Sources 67:beneath 225:  188:  37:invert 251:This 83:locks 39:is a 257:stub 223:ISBN 186:ISBN 81:and 45:arch 215:doi 35:or 31:An 302:: 221:. 62:. 51:. 288:e 281:t 274:v 263:. 231:. 217:: 194:.

Index


Wells Cathedral
civil engineering
arch
arch bridge
flying arch
tied-arch bridge
strainer arches
railway cuttings
dry docks
locks
canal tunnels
Newbold-on-Avon
The Iron Bridge during the construction of the concrete inverted arch across the river bed, showing the cofferdam around the northern abutment and the concrete support already in place at the south
The Iron Bridge
Hownes Gill Viaduct
Robert Stephenson
The Iron Bridge
retaining walls
Counter-arch
Woodman & Bloom 2003
Woodman & Bloom 2003
ISBN
0752421379
doi
10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t003657
ISBN
978-1-884446-05-4
Stub icon
architectural element

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