• Question: How does arch curvature affect load carrying strength?

    Asked by millerbei to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 19 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      An arch disperses the load on it,evenly across the whole surface.

      The higher the arch, the higher the load that can be supported as less of the downforce/upforce is transferred into lateral force i.e. to the left and right pillars which results in them being pushed out …. therefore more of the downforce is transferred down to the foundations and into planet earth.

      The lower the arch, the lower the load that can be supported as more of the downforce is transferred into lateral force i.e. to the left and right pillars which results in them being pushed out …. therefore less of the downforce is transferred down to the foundations and into planet earth.

Comments