Arch - Construction

Construction

An arch requires all of its elements to hold it together, raising the question of how an arch is constructed. One answer is to build a frame (historically, of wood) which exactly follows the form of the underside of the arch. This is known as a centre or centring. The voussoirs are laid on it until the arch is complete and self-supporting. For an arch higher than head height, scaffolding would in any case be required by the builders, so the scaffolding can be combined with the arch support. Occasionally arches would fall down when the frame was removed if construction or planning had been incorrect. (The A85 bridge at Dalmally, Scotland suffered this fate on its first attempt, in the 1940s). The interior and lower line or curve of an arch is known as the intrados.

Old arches sometimes need reinforcement due to decay of the keystones, forming what is known as bald arch.

The gallery shows arch forms displayed in roughly the order in which they were developed.

  • Triangular arch

  • Round arch or Semi-circular arch

  • Segmental arch or arch that is less than a semicircle

  • Unequal round arch or Rampant round arch

  • Lancet arch

  • Equilateral pointed arch

  • Shouldered flat arch -see also jack arch

  • Three-foiled cusped arch

  • Horseshoe arch

  • Three-centered arch

  • Elliptical arch

  • Inflexed arch

  • Ogee arch

  • Reverse ogee arch

  • Tudor arch

  • Parabolic arch


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    “There’s no art
    To find the mind’s construction in the face.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)