Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Analysis of Three-Hinged Arches

Several types of stresses could develop in a typical beam subjected to transversal loads. For our
purposes, we generally represent the state of internal stress in a beam using the shear force and
bending moment, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Internal forces in beams

In the context of structural design, there is a direct relationship between the magnitude of these
forces and the size and the depth of the beam. The larger a force, especially the bending moment,
the deeper the cross-section of the beam needs to be in order to carry the load safely.
For a long beam bending moment could become excessively large requiring the use of even a
deeper cross-section. In such a situation it may be desirable to curve the beam forming an arch.
This configuration results in a significant reduction in bending moment, but at the expense of
compressing the member (see Figure 2).

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Figure 2: A beam and its comparable arch

As depicted in Figure 3, we can classify arches based on their boundary conditions. An arch
could be fixed at both ends with no hinges present. We can also have an arch with a hinge at its
crown. And, there are two-hinged and three-hinged arches. The degree of indeterminacy of these
arches varies from three to zero. With a degree of indeterminacy of zero, the three-hinged arch is
considered a statically determinate system.

Figure 3: Arch types

Here, we are going to focus on the analysis of a three-hinged arch. In order to analyze such a
structure, we need to be able to define its shape using a mathematical function. We generally use
either a circle or a parabola for this purpose.
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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Consider the arch shown in Figure 4. Let’s refer to its height as h and use L to refer to the
horizontal distance between the two supports.

Figure 4: A parabolic arch

Suppose we wish to describe the shape of the arch using a parabolic function. We start with a
general quadratic equation, like this:

f(x) ax 2 bx c [1]

Our task is to determine coefficients a , b and c in terms of h and L . We know that the arch
has a height of zero at the left support. So, we can write:

f(0) 0 0 0 c 0
[2]

This gives us: c = 0.

We also know that when x =L/ 2 , the height of the arch is h . So, we can write:
L L L
f( ) = a( )2 + b( ) = h [3]
2 2 2

Further, at the right end of the arch where x = L , our function should evaluate to zero.

f(L) = aL2 + bL + 0 = 0 [4]

Using equations [3] and [4], we can solve for coefficients a and b :

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

−4h
a= [5]
L2
4h
b= [6]
L

So, the shape of our arch can be described using the following parabolic function:

−4h 2 4h 4hx
f(x) = ( 2
)x + ( )x = 2
(L − x) [7]
L L L

Now, consider an arch having a height of 10 meters and spans of 50 meters. We wish to analyze
it under a concentrated load of 120 kN placed at its crown, as shown below.

Figure 5: A parabolic arch subjected to a concentrated load

Knowing h and L , we can rewrite f(x) as:

50x − x 2
f(x) = [8]
62.5

Since the arch rests on a pin at either side, its free-body diagram involves a horizontal force and
a vertical force at each end, as shown in Figure 6.

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Figure 6: The free-body diagram of the arch

In this case, the two vertical reactions can be easily determined using the equilibrium equations,
as shown below.

 Fy = Ay + By −120 = 0 [9]

 M@A = 50By − 25(120) = 0 [10]

Ay = By = 60 kN [11]

To determine the horizontal reactions, let’s separate the left and right halves of the arch and draw
the free-body diagram for each half (see Figure 7).

Figure 7: The free-body diagrams of the left and right arch segments

Since the bending moment at the hinge is zero, we end up with only two unknown forces, C x and

Cy , at each cut point. Also, due to the symmetrical nature of the arch, we have identical forces at
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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

the left and right sides of point C. Now we can determine Ax using the left half of the arch.
Summing the moments about the cut point, we can write:

 M@C = 25(60)−10Ax = 0 [12]

We then solve the equation for A x .

A x = 150 kN [13]

We can determine B x in a similar manner, as shown below.

 M@C = 25(60)−10Bx = 0 [14]

B x = 150 kN [15]

Figure 8 shows the results of the analysis.

Figure 8: The arch support reactions

Suppose we are now asked to determine the internal forces in the arch including: the axial force,
the shear force, and the bending moment.
To do so, we cut the arch at some distance x from the origin. The free-body diagram of the
structure’s left segment is shown in Figure 9. Note the horizontal and vertical distances from the

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

origin to the cut point. We have labeled the horizontal distance x , so the vertical distance
becomes f(x) .

Figure 9: The arch’s internal forces shown in the global coordinate system

The free-body diagram involves three unknown forces: M , H and R . We can determine M by
writing the sum of the moments about the cut point.

150(50x − x 2 )
M + 60x − =0 [16]
62.5

Solving the above equation for M , we get:

M = 60x − 2.4x 2 [17]

Furthermore, since the sum of the forces in the x-direction must be zero, H must be 150 kN; and
R must be 60 kN in order for the sum of the forces in the y-direction to be zero.

But note that H is not the axial force, and R is not the shear force in the member. The axial
force must be in the tangential direction at x , and the shear force must be in the radial direction,
as shown in Figure 10.

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Figure 10: Internal forces in the arch in the local coordinate system

If we refer to the angle that the tangent to the arch makes with the horizontal axis as θ , then the
tangent of the angle can be expressed in terms of derivative of f(x) with respect to x .
df
tan(θ) = = 0.8 − 0.032x [18]
dx

Knowing the tangent of an angle, we can determine the angle itself. So we can express N and
V in terms of H , R , and θ , like this:
N = H cosθ + R sinθ [19]
V = R cosθ − H sinθ [20]

Since H is 150 and R is 60, Equations [19] and [20] can be rewritten as:

N = 150cosθ + 60sinθ [21]

V = 60cosθ −150sinθ [22]

Now, let’s use Equations [17], [21] and [22] to draw the moment, thrust, and shear diagrams.
To draw the moment diagram, we need to graph Equation [17]. This gives us a diagram for the
left half of the arch, as shown in Figure 11. But since the geometry and the load are symmetrical
about the centerline of the arch, the diagram for the right half of the structure is identical to that
of the left half.

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Figure 11: Moment diagram for the left half of the arch

Note that the bending moment at the hinge at either end of the segment is zero. We can verify
this by evaluating Equation [17] at zero and 25.
We can also determine the point at which the maximum moment occurs by setting the derivative
of the moment equation to zero, then solving for x , like this:

dM
= 60 − 4.8x = 0 [23]
dx

Solving the above equation for x , we get: x = 12.5 meters.

Therefore, the maximum moment occurs 12.5 meters to the right of A. Hence, according to
Equation [17], the magnitude of the maximum moment equals 375 kN

M(12.5) = 60(12.5) − 2.4(12.5)2 = 375 kN.m [24]

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

The complete moment diagram for the arch is given in Figure 12.

Figure 12: Moment diagram for the entire arch

To draw the diagram for the axial force, also called thrust diagram, we need to graph Equation
[21]. We have already determined an algebraic expression for tangent θ (see Equation [18]).
Using the trigonometric properties of an angle, we can express the sine and cosine of the angle in
terms of its tangent, like this:

1 1
cos(θ) =  [25]
2 2
1+ tan (θ) 1 + (0.8 − 0.032x)
0.8 − 0.032x [26]
sin(θ) = tan(θ)cos(θ) 
1+ (0.8 − 0.032x)2

Substituting [25] and [26] in Equation [21], we get:

198 − 1.92x
N= [27]
2
1+ (0.8 − 0.032x)

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

The graph of the above equation is depicted in Figure 13.

Figure 13: Thrust diagram for the left half of the arch

To determine the maximum axial force in the segment, we set the derivative of N to zero, like
this:

dN
= 0  1875 − 150x = 0 [28]
dx

Solving the above equation for x , we get:

x = 12.5 [29]

Therefore, the maximum axial force in the arch occurs 12.5 meters from the left support. If we
evaluate Equation [27] at x = 12.5, we get the magnitude of the maximum axial force in the arch.

198 − 1.92(12.5)
N(12.5) = = 161.6 kN [30]
2
1+ (0.8 − 0.032(12.5))

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

Again, the diagram for the right half of the arch is identical to that of the left half, so the
complete thrust diagram for the arch can be constructed as shown below.

Figure 14: Thrust diagram for the entire arch

To draw the shear diagram for the arch, we can use Equation [22].
Using Equations [25] and [26], we can simplify [22] as follows:

−60 + 4.8x
V= [31]
2
1+ (0.8 − 0.032x)

Note the numerator of the equation, it tells us that shear is zero when x = 12.5 . The graph of the
equation is shown below.

Figure 15: Shear diagram for the left half of the arch

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Shear and Moment Equations

The shear is negative 46.85 kN at the left end of the segment and 60 kN at the right end of the
segment. The complete shear diagram is shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16: Shear diagram for the entire arch

Figure 17 shows the three diagrams in one place.

Figure 17: Moment, thrust and shear diagrams for the arch

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