UNIT-V

ARCHES
Arches as structural forms – Examples of arch structures – Types of arches – Analysis of three
hinged, two hinged and fixed arches, parabolic and circular arches – Settlement and
temperature effects.
Introduction:
 Mainly three types of arches are used in practice: three-hinged, two-hinged and hingeless
arches.
 In 19th century, three-hinged arches were commonly used for the long span structures.
 Then development in structural analysis, for long span structures starting from late
nineteenth century engineers adopted two-hinged and hingeless arches.
 Two-hinged arch is the statically indeterminate structure to degree one.
 Usually, the horizontal reaction is treated as the redundant and is evaluated by the method of
least work.
Arch:
 An arch is a curved beam or structure in vertical plane and subjected to transverse loads
which act on the convex side of the curve and re-sights the external loads by virtue of
thrust.
 It is subjected to three restraining forces i.e.,
 Thrust
 Shear force
 Bending Moment
What is an arch? Explain.
 An arch is defined as a curved girder, having convexity upwards and supported at its ends.
 The supports must effectively arrest displacements in the vertical and horizontal
directions.
 Only then there will be arch action.
What is a linear arch?
 If an arch is to take loads, say W1, W2, and W3 (fig) and a Vector diagram and funicular
polygon are plotted as shown, the funicular polygon is known as the linear arch or
theoretical arch.
  The polar distance „ot‟ represents the horizontal thrust.
 The links AC, CD, DE, and EB will be under compression and there will be no bending
moment.
 If an arch of this shape ACDEB is provided, there will be no bending moment.
 For a given set of vertical loads W1, W2…..etc., we can have any number of linear arches
depending on where we choose „O‟ or how much horizontal thrust (or) we choose to
introduce.
State Eddy’s theorem.
 Eddy‟s theorem states that “The bending moment at any section of an arch is
proportional to the vertical intercept between the linear arch (or theoretical arch) and the
centre line of the actual arch.”
 BMx = Ordinate O2O3 x scale factor

What is the degree of static indeterminacy of a three hinged parabolic arch?

 For a three hinged parabolic arch, the degree of static indeterminancy is zero.
 It is statically determinate.
Explain with the aid of a sketch, the normal thrust and radial shear in an arch rib.

 Let us take a section X of an arch. (fig (a) ).

 Let q be the inclination of the tangent at X.
 If H is the horizontal thrust and V the vertical shear at X, from the free body of the RHS of
the arch, it is clear that V and H will have normal and radial components given by,
N = H cosƟ + V sinƟ
R = V cosƟ - H sinƟ
Difference between the basic action of an arch and a suspension cable
 An arch is essentially a compression member which can also take bending moments and
shears.
 Bending moments and shears will be absent if the arch is parabolic and the loading
uniformly distributed.
 A cable can take only tension. A suspension bridge will therefore have a cable anda
stiffening girder.
 The girder will take the bending moment and shears in the bridge and the cable, only
tension.
 Because of the thrusts in the cables and arches, the bending moments are considerably
reduced.
 If the load on the girder is uniform, the bridge will have only cable tension and no bending
moment on the girder.
Distinguish between two hinged and three hinged arches
Sl. No Two hinged arches Three hinged arches
Statically indeterminate to first
1 Statically determinate
degree
Might develop temperature Increase in temperature causes increase in
2
stresses Central rise. No stresses.
Easy to analyse.
3 Structurally more efficient But in costruction, the central hinge may
involve additional expenditure.
Will develop stresses due to Since this is determinate, no stresses due
4
sinking of supports to support sinking.
Types of Arches
a). According to the support conditions (structural behaviour arches) or hinges
i. Three hinged arch
 Hinged at the supports and the crown
 A 3-hinged arch is a statically determinate structure.
Hinged at the
crown

Rise

Springing

ii. Two hinged arch Hinged at the

Support
 Hinged only at the support
 It is an indeterminate structure of degree of indeterminacy equal to 1
 Rise
Rib of the arch

Span

Hinges at
the support

iii. Single hinged arch

iv. Fixed arch (or) hingeless arch
 The supports are fixed
 It is a statically indeterminate structure.
 The degree of indeterminancy is 3
b) , According to their shapes
v. Circular or curved or segmental arch
vi. Parabolic arch
vii. Elliptical arch
viii. Polygonal arch
c) , According to their basis of materials
i. Steel arches,
ii. Reinforced concrete arches,
iii. Masonry arches (Brick or Stone) etc.,
d) , According to their space between the loaded area and the rib arches
i. Open arch
ii. Closed arch (solid arch).
Three Hinged Arch
 Three hinged arch is statically determinate.
 Third hinge at crown and the other two hinges at
each abutments
 Mostly used for long span bridges
Analysis of three Hinged Parabolic Arch
 Bending moment at the crown hinge is zero
 Arch have two reaction at support
(One horizontal & one vertical)
 Need for four equation to solve and find the
unknown reaction.
  We can use three static equilibrium conditions and in addition to that the B.M. at the
crown hinge is equal to zero.

Crown

Rise

Springing

Hinged at the
Support

For Symmetric Parabolic Arch:

1. Rise:

Where,
yc = r = Radius (or) Rise of arch
L = Length of Arch or Span
2. Internal forces (Fx, Fy & Mz)
a. Normal Thrust (Nx)
Nx = Vx SinƟ + H CosƟ
b. Radial Shear (Rx)
Rx = Vx SinƟ - H CosƟ
c. Slope of arch (Ɵ)
θ = tan-1 [(4h/L2) (L – 2x)
d. Resultant (R)
RA = √(VA2 + HA2)
Where,
Fx or Rx = shear force in the arch
Fy or Nx = thrust in the arch
θ = Slope of arch axis at P.
V = Shear at P
C = Thrust at P
M = Bending moment at P
1. A three hinged parabolic arch of 20 m span and 4 m central rise as shown in figure
carries a point load of 40 kN at 4 m horizontally from left support. Compute BM, SF and
AF at load point. Also determine maximum positive and negative bending moments in the
arch
and plot the bending moment diagram.

B.M.D
Analysis of two-hinged arch
 A typical two-hinged arch is having four unknown reactions, but there are only three
equations of equilibrium available.
 Hence, the degree of statically indeterminacy is one for two-hinged arch.

Rib-shortening in the case of arches.

 In a two hinged arch, the normal thrust which is a compressive force along the axis of the
arch will shorten the rib of the arch.
 This in turn will release part of the horizontal thrust.
 Normally, this effect is not considered in the analysis (in the case of two hinged arches).
 Depending upon the importance of the work we can either take into account or omit the
effect of rib shortening.
 This will be done by considering (or omitting) strain energy due to axial compression
along with the strain energy due to bending in evaluating H.
Strain energy due to bending (Ub)

Where,
M = Bending moment
E = Young’s modulus of the arch material
I = Moment of inertia of the arch cross section
s = Length of the centreline of the arch
Strain energy due to axial compression (Ua)

Where,
M = Bending moment
N = Axial compression.
A = Cross sectional area of the arch
E = Young’s modulus of the arch
material s = Length of the centreline of the
arch
Total strain energy of the arch

Symmetrical two hinged arch

 Consider a symmetrical two-hinged arch as shown in figure.

 Let „C‟ at crown be the origin of co-ordinate axes.

 Now, replace hinge at ‘B’ with a roller support.
 Then we get a simply supported curved beam figure as shown in below.
  Since the curved beam is free to move horizontally, it will do so as shown by dotted lines.
 Let Mo and No be the bending moment and axial force at any cross section of the simply
supported curved beam.
 Since, in the original arch structure, there is no horizontal displacement, now apply a
horizontal force „H’ as shown in figure.

 The horizontal force „H’ should be of such magnitude, that the displacement at „B’ must
vanish.

Bending moment at any cross section of the arch M = Mo – H (h-y)

The axial compressive force at any cross section N = No + H cosƟ
Where,
θ the angle made by the tangent at D with horizontal
Substituting the value of M and N in the equation

Temperature effect
 Consider an unloaded two-hinged arch of span L.
 When the arch undergoes a uniform temperature change of T °C, then its span would
increase by α L T if it were allowed to expand freely.
 α is the co-efficient of thermal expansion of the arch material.
  Since the arch is restrained from the horizontal movement, a horizontal force is inducedat
the support as the temperature is increased.

Analysis of 3-hinged arches

 It is the process of determining external reactions at the support and internal quantities
such as normal thrust, shear and bending moment at any section in the arch.
Procedure to find reactions at the supports
 Sketch the arch with the loads and reactions at the support.
 Apply equilibrium conditions namely
 Fx  0, Fy  0 and M 0

 Apply the condition that BM about the hinge at the crown is zero (Moment of all the
forces either to the left or to the right of the crown).
 Solve for unknown quantities.
1. Find the BM,RS,NT catch 4m from left hand side,2m from right hand side of the
three hinged parabolic arch shown in fig.

Step1: Find VA, VB, HA, HB

Take M @ B = 0
VA×12+HA×0-10×16(6/2+6)-20×4+20×2 = 0
VA = 55 KN
Take M @ A = 0
-VB×12+HB×0+20×0+20×8+ (10×62/2) = 0
VB = 45 KN
HA (LHS)
VA×6-(HA×4)- (10×62/2)=0
HA = 37.5 KN
HB (RHS)
-VB×6+HB×4-20×4+20×2 = 0
HB = 37.5 KN
(i) BM, RS, NT (4m from LHS)
YD = 4r/L2(Lx-x2)
= 4×4/122(12×4-42)
YD = 3.56 m
Bending moment
M@D = (VA×4)-(HA×3.56)-(10×42/2)
MD = 6.5 KNm
Normal thrust
NT = VxSinθ + HCosθ
Vx = VA-(10×4)
= 55-40
= 15 KN
θ = 4r/L2 (L-2x)
= 25.46
NT = 15×cos 25.46-37.5×sin 25.46
= 40.3 KN
Radial shear
RS = Vxcosθ - Hsinθ
= 15×cos 25.46 – 37.5 × sin 25.46
= 2.58 KN
(ii) BM, RS, NT (2m from RHS)
YE = 2.22 m
VX = 25 KN
Bending moment
M@E = (-VB×2) + HB×2.22
M@E = -6.75KNm
Normal thrust
NT = VxSinθ + HCosθ
Vx = VB-20
= 45-20
= 25 KN
θ = 4r/L2 (L-2x) = 50.92
 NT = 25×cos 55.92-37.5×sin 55.92
= 43KN
Radial shear
RS = Vx cosθ - Hsinθ
= 25×cos 55.92 – 37.5 × sin 55.92
= -13.33 KN

2. Three hinged circular arch, a find support reaction, BM, RS, NT at 4m from L.H.S and 5m
from R.H.S.

Solution: Find VA, VB, HA, HB

Take M @ B = 0
VA×20-50×18-75×16 = 0
VA = 105 KN
Take M @ A=0
VB = 20 KN
HA(LHS)
VA×10-(HA×6)- (50×8) - (75×6) = 0
HA = 33.33 KN
HB (RHS)
HB = 33.33 KN
Find YD
r (2R-r) = L2/4
L = 20m, r = 6m
6(2R-r) = 202/4
R = 11.33 m
R2 = x′2+(R-r+YD)2 x′=6m
11.332 = 62+(11-6+ YD)2
9.61 = 5.33+ YD
YD=4.28 m
θ = sin-1(x′/R)
= sin-1(6/11.33)
= 31.98̊
(i) BM, RS, NT (4m from LHS)
Bending moment
M@D = (VA×4)-(50×2)-(HA×YD)
= 117.35 KNm
Normal thrust
NT = VxSinθ + HCosθ
Vx = VA-(75+50)
= 20 KN
NT = 20Sin31.98 + 33.33Cos31.98
= 17.98 KN
Radial shear
RS = Vx cosθ – H sinθ
= 20×cos 31.98 – 33.33× sin31.98
= - 34.61 KN
(ii) BM,RS,NT(6m from RHS)
x′ = 5m
θ = 26.18
Bending moment
YE = 4.83
M@E = (VB×5)+(HB×YE)
= (20×5) + (33.33×4.83)
= 60.98 KNm
Normal thrust
NT = Vx Sinθ + H Cosθ
Vx = 20 KN
NT = 20 Sin26.18 + 33.33 Cos26.18
= 38.73 KN
Radial shear
RS = Vx cosθ – H sinθ
= 20×cos 26.18 – 33.33× sin26.18
= - 3 KN
3. A two hinged parabolic arch of span 15m and a point load of 20 KN at a distance of
4m from L.H.S. Find the BM, RS, NT 4m from L.H.S and 3m from R.H.S. since r =
5m.
Solution: Find VA,VB
Take M@B = 0
VA×15-20×11 = 0
VA = 14.67 KN
Take M@A = 0
-VB×15+20×4 = 0
VB = 5.3 KN
H = 0∫l (μ y dx)/(18r2L/15)
μ1 = 14.67 x1
μ2 = -5.33x2+80
Substitute the μ2,μ1 values to above equation and we get
H = 11.8 KN
(i) BM,RS,NT(4m from LHS)
Bending moment
YD = 3.9 m
M@D = (VA×4)-(20×0)-(HA×YD)
= 12.62 KNm
Normal
thrust
NT = VxSinθ + HCosθ
Vx = VA- 20
= -5.33 KN
θ = 35.65
NT = -5.33Sin35.65 + 11.81Cos35.65 = 6.5 KN
Radial shear
RS = Vx cosθ – H sinθ
= -5.33×cos 35.65 – 11.81× sin35.65
= - 11.2 KN
(ii) BM, RS, NT (5m from RHS)
x = 5m
θ = 28.65
Bending moment
YE = 3.75
M@E = 0
Normal thrust
NT = VxSinθ + HCosθ
Vx = 25 KN
NT = 25Sin28.65+50Cos28.65
= 55.87 KN
Radial shear
RS = Vxcosθ - Hsinθ = 25×cos 28.65 – 50× sin28.65
= - 2.04 KN

4. A 3-hinged arch has a span of 30m and a rise of 10m. The arch carries UDL of 0.6 kN/m
on the left half of the span. It also carries 2 concentrated loads of 1.6 kN and 1 kN at 5 m
and 10 m from the ‘rt’ end. Determine the reactions at the support. (sketch not given).
0.6 kN/m 1 kN 1.6 kN
C
5m 5m

h = 10m

HB = 4.275 A B HB = 4.275

VA = 7.35 L = 30m VB = 4.25

F  x

0
H H0
A B

H H
A B
------ (1)
To find vertical reaction.

 0
Fy
VA  VB  0.6 x15 11.6
(2)
 11.6

M  0 A

 VB x 30  1.6 x 25 1x 20  (0.6 x15) 7.5 

0 V B 4.25 kN

VA  4.25  11.6

AA  7.35 kN
To find horizontal reaction.
MC  0
1x5 1.6x10  4.25x15  HB x10 

0H
B
 4.275kN

H A  4.275kN
OR
MC  0
7.375x15  H A x10  (0.6x15)7.5

H A  4.275kN

H B  4.275kN
To find total reaction

VA = 7.35 kN VB = 4.25 kN

RA
A
A HB = 4.275 kN
A
HA = 4.275 kN

R A H A 2  V A2

4.2752  7.352

 8.5kN

1  VA 0
A  tan    59 .82
H
 A

R B HB 2  V B2  6.02kN

1 VB 
B  tan    44.83
H
 B
5. A 3-hinged parabolic arch of span 50m and rise 15m carries a load of 10kN at quarter span
as shown in figure. Calculate total reaction at the hinges.

10 kN
C

15 m

HAA BHB

12.5 m
VA 50 m VB

 0
Fx
H A  HB
To find vertical reaction:

 Fy  0
VA VB  10
------ (1)

M  0 A

 VB x 50  10 x12.5 
0
VA  7.5 kN
VB  2.5 kN
To find Horizontal reaction
MC  0

V  25 H 15  0
B B
To find total reaction.

VA = 7.5
VB = 4.25
RA
A
A
HA = 4.17
HB = 4.17
HB  4.17 kN  HA

R A  4.172  7.52

R A  8.581kN

1  VA 0
A  tan    60 .92
 HA 

R B H A 2  V B2

R B  4.861kN
1  VB 0
B  tan    30 .94
H
 B

Problem: Determine the reaction components at supports A and B for 3-hinged arch shown in fig.
180 kN
C
10 kN/m

2.5 m

HA A
 10 m
B HB
2 .4 m

8m 6m
VB

To find Horizontal reaction

 0
Fx
H A  HB 0
H H
A B
------ (1)
To find vertical reaction.

 0
Fy
I A
 B
 180  10
V x10 (2)

VA  B
 280
V

M  0A

 VB x24  H B x 2.4  180 x18  10 x 50

10 x

2.4HB  24VB  
------ (3)
3740

HB 10VB  1558.33

MC  0
  180 x 8  VB x14  HB x 4.9  0

HB x 4.9 VB 14  1440 ------ (4)

 HB  2.857VB  293.87
Adding 2 and 3
 10VB  2.857VB  1558.33  293.87

VB 177kN

VA  103kN

HB 10 x177  1558.33

HB  211.67kN  HA

A symmetrical 3-hinged parabolic arch has a span of 20m. It carries UDL of intensity 10 kNm
over the entire span and 2 point loads of 40 kN each at 2m and 5m from left support. Compute
the reactions. Also find BM, radial shear and normal thrust at a section 4m from left end take
central rise as 4m.

40 kN 40 10 kN/m
kN

M C
4m

2 m 3m 20 m

F  x

0  HB  0
HA (1)
HA  HB

F 0 y

VA  VB  40  40 10 x 20 
(2)
0 VA  VB  280

M  0A
 40 x 2  40 x 5  (10 x 20)10
B
V
 x 20  0

VB114 kN

VA166 kN

Mc  0
 (10 x10) 5  HB x 4 114 x10  0

H B 160 kN

H A 160 kN

VERTICAL

10 kN/m 40 kN 64.35 NORMAL

M  = 25.64
160 kN HORIZONTAL
y = 2.56
86 kN

4m REDIAL
160 kN 2m
166 kN

BM at M
= - 160 x 2.56
+ 166 x 4 – 40 x 2
- (10 x 4)2
= + 94.4 kNm
4hx
y L  x
L2
4x4x4

2
20  4
20
y  2.56m
4h
tan 
L  2x
4 x 4L
2

= 20 2x
4 20
2

  250.64
Normal thrust = N = + 160 Cos 25.64 + 86 Cos 64.36
 = 181.46 kN
S = 160 Sin 25.64 - 86 x Sin 64.36
S = - 8.29 kN