ARCH Structures

including sap2000
Prof. Wolfgang Schueller

THE USE OF ARCHES

Memorial arch

Arch bridge

Roof support structures

Arched roof structures including domes

Arched cables

Wall penetration

Arched buildings

etc.

Arch geometries

The arch is part of the frame family, but distinguishes itself by

providing a continuous one-member enclosure without having any
abrupt kink points along the geometry. The internal forces flow
smoothly along the arch and are not concentrated at points of
sudden change of form, assuming that the external loads are
distributed evenly; concentrated loads ideally should be located at
kink points.

The use of arches in architecture has a long history. In Europe, the

semicircular arches of the Romans were adopted again as an
essential part of architecture during the Romanesque period.
Transformation from the round arch to the slender pointed arch
happened in the Gothic period about nine hundred years ago. In
contrast to high-pointed arches are the flat, segmental arches used
for bridges during the Renaissance period in Italy. Today, arches
have an important place in architecture in defining building spaces
and as bridges in public spaces. The infinite possible applications of
the arch principle can only be suggested by

Examples of arch structres

Traditional bridge, Chhina

Garden scene, Suchou

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
In the past, the arch together with the barrel
arch and the arch-like vault were among the
few structural systems that made it possible to
span larger distances by using masonry with its
low tensile capacity. Probably the first arches
built were based on the corbelling principle,
where horizontal masonry courses projected
slightly beyond the previous course. These
corbeled arches are false arches that do not
develop lateral thrust, which is the basic
characteristic of true arches.

Treasury of Atreus, c. 1325

BC, Mycenae

Ishtar Gate (reconstructed), Babylon, c. 575 BC

Palace of Ctesiphon,
now Taq-i-Kisra, near
Bagdad, Iraq, c. 400 AD

The Roman Aqueduct, Segovia, Spain,

50 AD

Coliseum, Rom, Italy, 80 AD

Interior, Coliseum, Rom, Italy, 80 AD

Constantine Basilica,
Trier, Germany, 310 AD

Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, 1150 - 1220

Notre Dame de Paris,

1150 -1220

Notre Dame de Paris. Schematic sections showing the flying buttresses

Notre Dame de Paris:

North Rose Window.
Suspended in perfect
equilibrium on a web of
stone, the immense north
rose window remains
intact after 700 years, its
intricately interlocking
blocks so exact they ring
when struck. Though
individual blocks may be
removed for repairs
without collapsing the
whole, only minor
buckling has occurred

17 m

13 m

Thrusts in flying buttresses

(left) and structure of a groin
vault (above)

Amiens Cathedral,
Amiens, France, 1269

Amiens Cathedral,
France, 1269

Amiens Cathedral, Amiens, France, 1269

St. Pierrre, Beauvais, 1247

Bourges Cathedral,
France, 1214. Most
efficient flying
buttress system ever
constructed.

Sections through various French Gothic Cathedrals, showing progressive

development

Cathedral of Palma, Majorca - photoelastic Study by Robert Mark

St. Lorenz,
Nuremberg, 1500,

St. Mary, Pirna, Germany, beginning 16th cent.

Construction
of a Gothic
cathedral

Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy. Begun in 1296. Segmented dome added by Brunelleschi in
1436. 42 m span, 91 m high.. Built without centering

Santa Maria del Fiore,

Florence, Italy.
Begun in 1296. Dome
added by Brunelleschi
in 1436.
42 m span, 91 m high.

Built without
centering
Shape is arch a quinto
acuto

Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore,

Florence, is not hemispherical,
but is made up of 8 segments.

Centenary Hall, Breslau, Ger. (now Wroclaw,

Pol.), Max Berg, 1913, Dyckerhoff & Widmann

Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Florence, 1367

Ponte Santas Trinita, Florence, 1569

Rialto Bridge, Venice, 1591

Anji Bridge located in Zhaoxian County of Hebei Province was built in the Sui
Dynasty (581-618). Anji Bridge is a single span stone arch bridge in China, and it is also
the oldest extant bridge of China. It is also known as the Zhaozhou Bridge with a history
of about 1,400 years, it is reputed as The First Bridge Under Sky.

It may have been Robert Hook (1670), who was the first to relize from a
scientific point of view that the catenary is the funicular response of the
arch weight.
Christopher Wren introduced the concept of the catenary dome shape
with the conical brick dome supporting the cupola of St. Pauls Cathedral,
London (1970).
But Giovanni Poleni was the first to actually use a model of string and
lead weights to obtain the thrust line of St. Peter in Rome (1743) and thus
was able to make his recommendations for the number of tension rings
required to prevcent bfurther cracking of the cupola.

Dome of St Peters Basilica, Rome, Michaelangelo, 1546

Hanging chain analysis of Dome of St Peters, by Giovani Poleni, 1742

St Pauls Cathedral, London, 1710, Christopher Wren

Hookes hanging chain concept applied to the dome of Christopher Wrens

St Pauls Cathedral. The lantern on top of the dome distorts the chain

St Pauls Cathedral Dome

(3 domes inside each other)

Interior of Carmel Mission. Built in

1793 it is an interesting design in that
the walls curve inward towards the
top, and the roof consists of a series
of inverted catenary arches built of
native sandstone quarried from the
nearby Santa Lucia Mountains.
(Carmel, CA)

Arched Bridge, the Summer Palace in Beijing, China, 1750

Antoni Gaudi (1852 1926) revived

the idea of funicular curves of the
loads in his search for the true nature
of form. He derived arch shapes from
suspended scale models so as to
achieve purity of form and maximum
efficiency of materials.
Gaudi also used parabolic arches as an
approximation for catenary curves

Sagrada Familia Cathedral,

Barcelona, 1982 - , Antoni Gaudi

The nearly 100-ft span cast iron bridge

at Coalbrookdale over the Severn, UK,
1772, is often considered as a turning
point from stone and brick as the
dominant material for arches, to iron.
The new material of iron and later steel
made long spans and new building types
possible.

St. Pancras Station, London, 1868, 240 ft (73 m)

Galerie des Machines (375 ft, 114 m), Paris, 1889, Dutert and Contamin

Frames: 375-ft (114 m) span steel arches for the Galerie des Machines (1889), Dutert
and Contamin

Galerie des Machines (375 ft, 114 m),

Paris, 1889, Dutert and Contamin

Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, 1867

The Stock
Exchange
Amsterdam,
1903, Hendrik
Petrus Berlage
Arch

Viaduc de Garabit,
Saint-Flour, Cantal, 1884,
Gustave Eiffel

Firth of Forth Bridge (1708 ft), Scotland, 1890, Benjamin Baker, John Fowler

DOUBLE CANTILEVER
STRUCTURES

Eiffel Tower (300 m), Paris, 1889, Gustave Eiffel

Glass-vaulted Gallerias in Brussels, Milane, etc.

end of 19th century

New Dresden Main Train Station, Dresden, 2006, Foster

Dresden Central Railway

Sttation, 2006, Norman
Foster Arch, Happold Eng.

Lisbon Oriente Bus Station , Lisbon,

Santiago Calatrava, 1998

Stadelhofen Railway Station, Zurich,

1984, Santiago Calatrava

Thonet's first bentwood rocking chair, upholstered, 1860, Thonet Brothers, Austria

The Chaise longue, c. 1928, Le Corbusier

Paimio chair, 1932, Alvar Aalto; bent laminated birch frame, solid birch, with
painted bent plywood seat

Salignatobel Bridge, Switzerland, 1930, Robert Maillart

Arve Bridge, Vesay, Switzerland, 1935, Robert Maillart

Dorton (Raleigh) Arena, 1952,

North Carolina, Matthew Nowicki,
with Frederick Severud

Institute of Public
Administration, Ahmedabad,
India, 1963, Louis Kahn

Gateway arch (630 ft), St. Louis, 1963, Eero Saarinen

This free-standing arch is 630 ft. high and the world's tallest. Built of triangular section
of double-walled stainless steel, the space between the skins being filled with concrete
after each section was placed. Looks like perfect inverted catenary shape

The Geometry of the Arch

Arches may be composed of different types of curves. The
most common ones are derived from
conic sections. They are the circle, ellipse, parabola, and
hyperbola but also the
cycloid should be mentioned.
Curves can be used as single-, double-, or multiple-curvature
systems, in other words they can consist of various curvilinear
segments. With respect to circular curves, arches can be onecentered (e.g. semi-circular, segmental), two-centered, and
multi-centered. There are innumerable ways basic curves may
be combined to yield various arch profiles. The most common
arches are based on circular and parabolic geometry.

FROM THE HARMONY OF NATURE

TO THAT OF ARCHITECTURE

CONTEMPORARY ARCHES
ARCH USE:

BRIDGES, BUILDING ENCLOSURES, ROOF

STRUCTURES, SUPPORT STRUCTURS, WALL ARCHES, COMPRESSION
RINGS, SUSPENDED ARCHES, TREES, MONUMENTS, etc.

ARCHES

BRIDGES

Examples of arched bridges

Route 112 Bridge, Huntington, MA, using SAP

pedestrian bridge at Seattle's Museum of

Flight, 2007, SRG Partnership

Based on an original drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, Oslo, 2001, Vebjrn Sand

Ponte della Constituzione , Venice, 2007

Santiago Calatrava

Bent wood bridge, Esslingen, Germany, 1986, R. Dietrich

Pedestrian bridge in Cologne, Germany

Barqueta Bridge, Seville, Spain, 1992, Santiago Calatrava

Bac de Roda Felipe II Bridge,

1987, Barcelona, S. Calatrava

La Devesa Footbridge, Ripoll, Spain, 1991, S. Calatrava, torsion

The 100-m span tied arch Japan Bridge in Paris (1993, Kisho Kurokawa) consists of the two
main inward leaning tubular steel arches, the walkway of triangular precast concrete panels
covered by a curved glass enclosure, and the support of the arched spatial cable-strut
network. The walkway and glass enclosure are suspended from the arches. The lateral arch
thrust is taken by the cable-strut network at the base. Torsion due to lateral loads is efficiently
resisted by the triangular cross-section of the bridge (i.e. torsion box).

Bridge over the Rhein-Herne-Chanel, BUGA 97 Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 1997, Stefan Polnyi

Brcke ber den Rhein-Herne-Kanal,

BUGA 97 Gelsenkirchen
Asymmetrie bei Vollast
wegen asymmetrischer Anordnung
(Prof. Dr. Stefan Polnyi)
Der Gehweg kreuzt den Kanal im Grundriss
unter ca. 70/110 Winkeln.
Die Bgen stehen genau senkrecht zum Kanal.
Die Gesamtkonstruktion ist punktsymmetrisch
zum Mittelpunkt des Gehweges.
Beide Bgen sind identische
Sttzlinienkonstruktionen fr Vollbelastung,
jedoch ist der einzelne Bogen asymmetrisch.
Wegen der Stellung des einzelnen Bogens zum
Gehweg sind die identischen Bgen
gegeneinander um 180 im Grundriss verdreht.
Da die Bgen im Grundriss den Gehweg kreuzen
(an jedem Ufer zwei Auflager an einer
Brckenseite), mssen die Anlenkpunkte der
Seile am Bogen so gewhlt werden, dass das
Lichtraumprofil frei gehalten wird. Auerhalb
der Anlenkpunkte sind die Bgen ideal gerade.

Oberbaumbruecke, Berlin, 1995, Santiago Calatrava

Proposal train station, Florence, Italy, 2007, Arata

Isozaki, Mutsuro Sasaki

Bus Stop, Aachen, 1998, Peter Eisenman

ARCHES as
ROOF/BUILDIG
Support
STRUCTURES

The Metro station at Blaak, Rotterdam, 1993, Harry Reijnders of Movares; the arch
spans 62.5 m, dome diameter is 35 m

Ice hokey stadium, Munich,

1985, Kurt Ackermann

Lanxess Arena, Cologne, 1998, Peter Bhm Architekten

Olympic Stadium OAKA, Athens, Greece, 2004, Santiago Calatrava

Olympic
Stadium
OAKA,
Athens,
Greece, 2004,
Santiago
Calatrava

Olympic Stadium OAKA,

Athens, Greece, 2004, Santiago
Calatrava

Olympic Stadium OAKA, Athens, Greece, 2004, Santiago Calatrava

The Olympic
Velodrome, Athens,
Greece, 2004,
Santiago Calatrava

Ludwig-Erhard-Haus, Berlin, Germany,

1999, Nick Grimshaw Struct Eng

ARCHES AS
ROOF
STRUCTURES

Arched structure, computer model

Messehaus 9 and
Galleria ,
Frankfurt,
Germany, 1983,
Oswald Mathias
Ungers Arch,
Stefan Polonyi
Struct. Eng.

Messehaus 9 and
Galleria , Frankfurt,
Germany, 1983,
Oswald Mathias Ungers
Arch, Stefan Polonyi
Struct. Eng.

Media and Study Centre, D.

Hosiassohn (Sketch
program)

National Stadium of Sports

Affairs Council, Toyo Ito &
Associates, Kaohsiung,
Taiwan, 2009

St. Dominque, 2001, Gifu Design: ,Takenaka

Deutsche-Med, Rostock, 2004, Helmut

Jahn, Werner Sobek

Student Housing IIT, Chicago,

2003, Helmut Jahn

Office building of the European

Investment Bank, 2009, Luxembourg,
Ingenhoven Architects

Office building of the European

Investment Bank, 2009, Luxembourg,
Ingenhoven Architects

Museum of
Contemporary Art,
Helsinki, Finland, 1998,
Steven Holl, Arup +
Nordenson

National Stadium of Sports Affairs

Council, Toyo Ito & Associates,
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2009

Ningbo Air Terminal

Ningbo Air Terminal

Sportscenter Dalian, China

Beijing Capital International

Airport - Terminal 2, 1999

Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2, 1999

Inchon Airport, Seoul , 2002, Terry Farrel

Beijing International Airport Terminal 3,

2008, Norman Foster, Arup

New York World Trade Center

Transportation Hub, 2016
Santiago Calatrava

New York World Trade Center

Transportation Hub, 2016
Santiago Calatrava

EXPO-Dach Hannover, Arch.: Herzog und Partner, Ing.: Julius Natterer, 2000

Autobahnraststtte, Arch. & Ing.: Heinz Isler, Deitingen 1968

Bodegas Protos,
Peafiel, Valladolid,
Spain, 2008, Richard
Rogers, Arup

Ferrari Restaurant, Maranello, Italy. 2008, Marco Visconti

Olympic Stadium Montreal, Canada, 1975, Roger Taillibert

Bordeaux Law Courts, 1998, Richard Rogers, Arup

Harajuku Protestant Church,

Kita-Aoyama, Tokyo, Ciel Rouge
Creation, Kaneko Fumiko &
Henri Gueydan, Tokyo, 2005

Sustainable towers in Malaysia, 2008, Studio Nicoletti

Allianz Stadium Railway Station Froettmanning, Munich, 2006

Airport Terminal Newark

Peek & Cloppenburg, Cologne, Germany, 2005, Renzo Piano

National Museum of the Marine Corps

and Heritage Center, Quantico, Virginia
USA, 2006, Fentress Bradburn Architects,
Weidlinger

San Giovanni Rotondo,

Foggia, Italy, 2004, Renzo
Piano

Pilgrimage church Padre

Mio, Renzo Piano
The Dome is supported by
21 prestressed stone
arches.

In plan view, the structure

appears spiral shaped
converging into a dome
structure consisting of
11 arches along the outer
ring and 10 arches along
the inner ring
The shape of the arches
corresponds to the pressure
line (asymmetrical)
-> the arch is only under
compression

Konstruktionaufnahme von
Druck:jeweils 5 Steine sind zu
einem Segment verschraubt

(Montage) Segmente werden

ber Zapfenverbindung in
Position gehaltenLehrgerst fr
Montage fr Lastfall Erdbeben
werden nach Montage 2
Stahlseile durch den Bogen
gefhrt und gespannt
druckbeanspruchte Steinbgen
Vouten am Sto von Segmenten
haben gestalterische Funktion
Fundamente zur Aufnahme der
Horizontalkrfte ausgebildet

Center Paul Klee, Bern, Switzerland, 2007, Renzo Piano Building Workshop , Arup

Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain, 2004, Richard Rogers,

Anthony Hunt Associates (main structure), Arup (main
faade)

Floating Pavilion, Groningen,

Netherland, 1997, Fumihico
Maki

Milwaukee Art Museum, 2001, Santiago Calatrava

Lisbone Orient Station, Lisbone, Portugal, 1998, Santiago Calatrava

Lige Guillemins TGV Station, Lige, Belgium, 2008, Santiago Calatrava

Documentation Center
Nazi Party Rally
Grounds, Nuremberg,
2001, Guenther Domenig

ZhongGuanCun West Office, Beijing, 2006, Kohn Pederson Fox Assoc

La Grande Arche, Paris, 1989, Johan Otto von Sprechelsen/ Peter Rice for the canopy

Central Chinese Television

(CCTV) Tower, Beijing, 2008,
Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren/OMA

Iglesia de la Medalla
Milagrosa, Navarte, Mexico
City, 1955, Felix Candela

Satolas Airport TGV Train

Station, Lyons, France, 1995,
Santiago Calatrava

BCE Place, Toronto, 1992, Santiago Calatrava

BCE Place Galleria, Toronto, 1972,

Santiago Calatrava

City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, Spain, 1996, Santiago Calatrava

Les Halles, Paris, 1979, Claude Vasconi and Georges Pencreac'h

Les Halles, Paris, 1979, Claude

Vasconi and Georges Pencreac'h

Vaillant Arena , Davos, Switzerland, 1979,

Krhenbhl Architekten

United Airlines Terminal at

OHare Airport, Chicago,
1987, H. Jahn

Minute Maid Field, Houston, 2000,

HOK Sport

Atrium, Germanisches Museum, Nuremberg, Germany, 1993, me di um Arch

Jaegerpassage, Leipzig, Germany

The Kimmel Center for

Performing Arts,
Philadelphia, 2003, Rafael
Vinoly Arch

Neue Messe Leipzig,

1996, Gerkan, Marg
und Partner

National Grand
Theater, Beijing, 2005,
Paul Andreu

Olympic Stadium, Montreal, 1976, Roger Taillibert

Montreal Biodome (The

Montreal Olympic
Velodrome ), 1978,
Roger Taillibert

Bangkok
International
Airport, 2006,
Murphy/Jahn,
Werner Sobek

Bangkok International
Airport, 2006, Murphy/Jahn
Arch, Werner Sobek
Struct. Eng

The new International Terminal at San Francisco International Airport, 2001, SOM

Stuttgart Airport, Terminal 1, Germany, 1991, von Gerkan Arch, Schlaich Struct. Eng

Beijing Capital
International
Airport Terminal 3,
2008, N. Foster

Kansai International Airport

Passenger Terminal Building, 1994,
Renzo Piano, Ove Arup (Peter
Rice)

Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, 2002, KOHLSTRUNG

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN CONSULTING CO

Cargolifterhalle, Berlin
Brand

Largest free-span hall on

Earth (2000)
width: 210 m
length: 360 m
height: 107 m
Arches consist of 4 trusses
with a fabric membrane
spanning between

Exchange House, London, 1990, SOM

Ludwig-Erhard-Haus, Berlin,
Germany, 1999, Nick Grimshaw

Tekla Xsteel

Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA, 2008, SOM

Complex canopy

The Response of Roof Arches to Loading

SIMPLE LOADING CONDITIONS
FUNICULAR COMPRESSION SYSTEMS
BRACED ARCHES
COMPOSITE SYSTEMS AND FORM-RESISTANT STRUCTURES

ARCHES WITH PRESTRESSED TENSILE WEBS

The Response of Roof Arches to Loading

Parabolic arches and circular arches behave differently under loading
unless there are shallow and have a height-to-san ratio of h/L 1/8,
in which case the circular arch can be treated as a parabolic one for
preliminary design purposes.
Under uniform, gravity load action on the horizontal projection, the pressure
line coincides with the centroidal axis, or the parabolic arch is the funicular
shape for the given loading. Hence there is no bending and no shear along the
arch; the forces are resisted in purely axial manner. The maximum axial force
Nmax appears at the reaction.
The dead load, however, acts as a uniform load along the arch, for which the
funicular response is a catenary. Because of the complex mathematical nature
of the form, it is often approximated by a second-degree parabola, especially
when the parabola is shallow. Hence, dead load action may be approximated
as a horizontal uniform load and considered similar to snow loading
The critical moments for a parabolic arch occur under asymmetrical uniform
live loading across one-half of the arch. The maximum and minimum
moments for a three-hinge arch are located at quarter spans and are equal to,

M = wLL2/64

The same equations can also be used for preliminary design purposes for twohinged and fixed arches.

Funicular Cable Analogy

Notice:
the frame/arch in case e. is only a bent beam, which cannot resist lateral forces and hence no axial
forces in the arch portion the reaction forces are only vertical
The tie rod in case d. resists horizontal forces hence causing axial forces in the arch portion

Typically, an arch's profile is based on the funicular profile corresponding

to dead load acting alone, and the arch rib is designed to resist shear and
bending moments resulting from unbalanced live loads. The arch must be
designed to resist both extremes.

Simple Arch Loading

Response of the arch to single-load action

Parabolic arch under uniform load action

Colonia Guell crypt, Barcelona, 1915, Antoni Gaudi:

compressive construction (brick)

construction follows the pressure line

Funicular shape under uniform loads

Graphic statics

Arches under loading: exercises

Berlin Stock
Exchange, Berlin
(Grimshaw, London)
- The main support
structure is a
2-hinge arch
- The floor framing
hangs on the arches
in a uniform manner
(assuming uniform
floor loads) -

Construction of a Circular Arch with SAP

1) Just draw a single line between the arch supports.
2) Select the arch member (only one member may be selected at a time) to
be meshed.
3) From the Edit menu select Mesh Curved Frame/Cable command to
access the Curve Parameters form. From the Type of Circular Curve dropdown list select a predefined curve such as Circular Arc Planar Point &

Radius

4) Enter the Radius and a value for the Number of Divisions in this edit box
to specify the meshing of the generated curved frame/cable element.
5) Click the Insert button and SAP2000 will calculate the coordinates of the
curve automatically based on the Number of Divisions specified. The curve
will be displayed in plan in the display area on the right-hand side of the
Curve Parameters form.
6) Click OK button and the arch will appear on the screen but not in the xzplane, it must be rotated to its proper location: select all (i.e. arc), then Edit,
then Replicate, then Radial, then Rotate About XLine, then check
Coordinates of Point on YZ Plane, then check Angle of rotation using
increments of 450, and check Delete Original Objects, then OK.

Minor masonry arches:

arch action in compression

Thick arches:

the pressure line falls

within the arch section
moments are small
tensile stresses are small
masonry can be used
arch action primarily in
compression

Neue Messe Leipzig

Arch has a deep cross
section, therefore the
pressure line falls
within the section
causing primarily
compression in the
trussed member

fixed arch

Radial forces and stresses

STATICALLY DETERMINACY
3-hinged arch
statically determinate
all pressure lines pass through the 3 hinges where the
moments are zero.
convinient for transportation (prefab arches)
2-hinged arch
once indeterminate: moments occur at the eliminated hinge.
force flow is rather close to 3-hinged arches since the
moments are rather small.
Fixed arch
thrice indeterminate
moments occur at the fixed supports.

Indeterminate Arches

BCE Place, Toronto, 1992,

Santiago Calatrava
2-hinged arch
steep arch with small
thrust forces

wL
w

M min = Ne

Mmax
h

N
H

H
Av
/2

Bv

/2

For the preliminary design of three-hinged circular roof arches considering

only gravity loading, one may use the following approximations:

Shallow arches (h/L 1/8): treat circular arches as parabolic arches, use

M = wLL2/64
Intermediate arches (1/8 < h/L 1/3) for the rise-to-span ratios between
steep and shallow roof arches, circular arches may be considered as parabolic
arches for first-approximation purposes, although the effect of dead load causing
bending must be considered.
Mmax - wDh2/8 - wLL2/64
Ignored are safely the difference in location between the two moments.

Steep circular arches (h/L > 1/3) use

Mmax = - wh2/8

Design of: parabolic arch: Mmax = wLL2/64 = 0.5(40)2/64 = 12.5 k-ft

0.75(12.5 + 14.55) = 20.29 k-ft (COMB4)
S 1.15Mb/Fb = 1.15(20.29)12/24 = 11.67 in.3

try W8 x 15, Sx = 11.8 in.3

semicircular arch: -Mmax = wh2/8 = 1.0(20)2/8 = 50 k-ft
0.75(-50 - 8) = -43.5 k-ft (COMB3)
S 1.10Mb/Fb = 1.10(50)12/24 = 27.5 in.3

try W8 x 35, Sx = 31.2 in.3

Parabolic arch:
Mmax wwh2/5.5 = 0.2(20)2/5.5 = 14.55 k-ft

Semicircular arch:
Mmax wwh2/4.5 = 0.2(20)2/4.5 = 17.78 k-ft
Mmin -wwh2/10 = -0.2(20)2/10 = -8 k-ft

wind loading

Parabolic arch:
Mmax= - PL/16 = -2(40)/16 = -5 k-ft

Semicircular arch:
Mmax - PL/10= -2(40)/10 = -8 k-ft

Single load at crown

PARABOLIC ARCH

Intermediate arches,
h/L = 10/40 =

Parabolic arch
CIRCULAR ARCH

Design based on left side:

+Mmax = wLL2/64 =
0.5(40)2/64 = 12.5 k-ft
S 1.25Mb/Fb =
1.25(12.5)12/24 = 7.81 in.3

Circular arch:

try W8 x 13, Sx = 9.91 in.3

Design based on right side:

Mmax - wDh2/8 - wLL2/64 = - 0.5(10)2/8 12.5 = -6.25 12.5 = -18.75 k-ft

S 1.20Mb/Fb = 1.20(18.75)12/24 = 11.25 in.3
try W8 x 15, Sx = 11.8 in.3

Parabolic arch:

Mmax= - PL/16
= -2(40)/16 = -5 k-ft

Semicircular arch:
Mmax 1.2(- PL/16)
= 1.2(-5) = -6 k-ft
Single load at crown

PARABOLIC ARCH

CIRCULAR ARCH

Treat the shallow arches as parabolic arches for preliminary design purposes
because of the rise-to-span ratio h/L = 5/40 = 1/8
Mmax = wL L2/64 = 0.5(40)2/64 = 12.5 k-ft
S 1.35Mb/Fb = 1.35(12.5)12/24 = 8.44 in.3

try W8 x 13, Sx = 9.91 in.3

SAP requires a W8 x 15

PARABOLIC ARCH

CIRCULAR ARCH

Single crown load:

Mmax= PL/16 = 2(40)/16 = 5 k-ft

8'

90
40'

Arches and bent beams

Case d: bent beam

The connection at the top is hinged and cannot resist any
horizontal forces
the column carries only vertical reaction forces
the right foundation only carries vertical reaction forces
the structure is a bent beam
20'

Notice:
the frame/arch in case e. is only a bent beam, which cannot resist lateral forces and hence no axial
forces in the arch portion the reaction forces are only vertical
The tie rod in case d. resists horizontal forces hence causing axial forces in the arch portion

8'

40'

First, the geometry input for modeling the arches must be determined.
The radius, R, for the shallow arch (Fig. 7.7A) according to Eq. (7.7), is

R = (4h2 + L2)/8h = (4(8)2 + 402)/8(8) = 29 ft

The location of the span L as related to the center of the circle is defined
by the radial angle o according to Eq. (7.8).

sin o= (L/2)/R =20/29 = 0.69,

o = 43.600

Now three grid spaces with the following grid spacing along radial angles
are selected,

o/n = 43.600/3=14.530
The circular arch length, l, according to Eq. (7.9), is

l = R(o/900) = (29)43.60/90 = 44.14 ft

The arch length, l, for the semicircular arch, is

l = R = (20) = 62.83 ft

To model the geometry of the arches in SAP the following values are selected:

Global grid system:

grid spacing in X direction: 4 ft using 24 spaces

grid spacing in Y direction: 4 ft using 24 spaces
grid spacing in Z direction: 4 ft using 15 spaces

Cylindrical grid system: CSYS1 for case A:

grid spacing along Radius: 29 ft using 1 space
radial angles along Theta: 14.53 deg using 6 spaces
spacing of curves along Z direction: 29 ft using 1 space
The circular sector must be rotated 90 43.60 deg = 46.40 deg counterclockwise
about the Z axis.
CSYS2 for Case C:
grid spacing along Radius: 20 ft using 1 space
radial angles along Theta: 15 deg using 12 spaces
spacing of curves along Z direction: 20 ft using 1 space
Duplicate full arches and delete portions to obtain the one-half arches.

Mmax wL2/162 = 0.8(240)2/162 = 284 k-ft (SAP 310 k-ft)

Where the triangular load: w (0.020 + 0.018)240/36 = 0.8 k/ft

S 1.10Mb/Fb = 1.10(284)12/24 = 156.2 in3
Try W24 x 76, S = 176 in3

Ribbed Domes

798 Beijing Art Factory, Beijing, 1956

COMPOSITE SYSTEMS AND FORM-RESISTANT STRUCTURES

An example of an asymmetrical arch system is shown in the next slide. Here the supports are
at different levels and a long-span arch and a short arch support each other, in other words
the crown hinge is located off-center.
The relatively shallow asymmetrical arch system constitutes a nearly funicular response in
compression under uniform load action since the circular geometry approaches the parabolic
one; notice that the location of the hinge is of no importance. Hence, live loading for each arch
separately must be considered in order to cause bending, while the dead load is carried in
nearly pure compression action; the long arch on the right side clearly carries the largest
moments. Superimposing the pressure lines of the two loading cases results in a
composite funicular polygon that looks like the shape of two inclined bowstring trusses, hence
suggesting a good design solution. For long-span arches the use of triangular space trusses
may be advantageous.
Under asymmetrical loading on the long arch, the long arch acts in compression and the
bottom chord in tension to resist the large positive bending moment. However, the bottom
chord of the short arch acts in compression and the top chord in tension under the negative
bending moment. But should the bottom member be straight, then it resists directly the
compression force due to the live load in funicular fashion leaving no axial force or moment in
the arch.
Under asymmetrical loading on the short arch, the bottom chord of the long truss will resist
the compression force directly, hence causing no moment or axial force in the arch if it would
be a compression member. But since it is a tension member, there must be enough tension due
to the weight of the long-span in the member to suppress the compression force!

Pressure lines in elevation

Plan view

2.68'

C.
10'

30 deg
17.32'

60 deg

Bh
Bv
10'
30 deg

a.

Ah

20'

Av

17.32'

2.68'

7.32'
5.86'
17.32'

4.29'

b.

10'

27.32'

10

.10

Mmax

Mmin

7.70 k
5.86'

4.29'

10'

27.32'

Waterloo Terminal, London, 1993, Nicholas Grimshaw

+ Anthony Hunt

BRACED ARCHES
When arches are braced or prestressed by tensile elements, they are
stabilized against buckling, and deformations due to various loading
conditions and the corresponding moments are minimized, which in turn
results in reduction of the arch cross-section. The stabilization of the arch
through bracing can be done in various ways as suggested in Fig. 9.12 and
9.14.
Several typical examples of braced arches with non-prestressed web
members are shown in Fig. 9.12. The most basic braced arch is the tied
arch (b). Arches may be supported by a single or multiple compression struts
or flying columns (c, d)). Slender arches may also be braced against buckling
with radial ties at center span (e) as known from the principle of the bicycle
wheel, where the thin wire spokes of the bicycle wheel are prestressed with
sufficient force so that they do not carry compression and buckle due to
external loads; the uniform radial tension produces compression in the outer
circular rim (ring) of the wheel and tension in the inner ring. However, in the
given case, the diagonal members are not prestressed. Here, the three
members at center-span are struts.

The design of the unbraced arched portal frame in (a), is controlled by full
uniform gravity loading; here the lateral thrust at the frame knees is resisted
completely in bending. However, when the relatively shallow portion of the arch
is braced by a horizontal tie rod (b), the lateral displacement under full uniform
gravity loading is very much reduced, that is bending decreases substantially
although axial forces will increase. For the tied arch cases without or with flying
column supports for cases (b, c, d)), the design of the critical arch members is
controlled by gravity loading or the combination of half gravity loading together
with wind whereas the design of the web members is controlled by gravity
loading. It is apparent, as the layout of the arch webbing gets denser the arch
moments will decrease further as the structure approaches an axial system. If a
vertical load large enough is applied to the intersection of web members in case
(e) to prestress the radial rod web members, then the entire web members
form a radial tensile network. For further discussion refer to Problem 9.1.

Arches may also be supported by a dense network of overlapping diagonal

tensile members (f); notice, this case represents a pure tensile network. When
loaded on one side the diagonals under the load fold while the diagonal members
on the non-loaded side are placed under tension. SAP takes into account the
redistribution of forces by treating the cable network in case (f), for example, as
tension-only members by performing a nonlinear static analysis. In general,
however, depending on the arch proportions the tensile webbing may have to be
prestressed to act more efficiently under any loading condition and to increase the
load carrying capacity and stiffness of the arch.
The cable-braced, latticed, tied-arch in Fig. 9.12g approaches the behavior of a
truss; the cable network substantially reduces bending moments in the arch and tie
beam where the bottom loads prestress the arch. For fast approximation purposes
use the beam analogy .

10'

d
6'

12'

e
c

10'

L = 40'

Beams above or below the arches carry the

moments due to the varying live loads

ARCHES WITH PRESTRESSED TENSILE WEBS

The spirit of the delicate roof structure of the Lille Euro Station, Lille,
France as shown in the following conceptual drawing (1994, Jean-Marie
Duthilleul/ Peter Rice), reflects a new generation of structures aiming for
lightness and immateriality. This new technology features construction with
its own aesthetics reflecting a play between artistic, architectural,
mathematical, and engineering worlds. The two asymmetrical transverse
slender tubular steel arches (set at about 12 m or 40 ft on center) with
diameters of around one-hundredth of their span, are of different radii; the
larger arch has a span of 26 m and the smaller one 18.5 m. The arches are
braced against buckling similar to the spokes of a wheel by deceitfully
disorganized ties and rods; this graceful and light structure, in harmony
with the intimate space, was not supposed to look right but to reflect a
spirit of ambiguity. The roof does not sit directly on the arches, but on a
series of slender tubes that are resting on the arches which, in turn, carry
the longitudinal cable trusses that support the undulating metal roof. The
support structure allowed the gently curved roof almost to float or to free it
from its support, emphasizing the quality of light.

TGV Lille-Europe Station,

Lille, France, 1994, JeanMarie Duthilleul/ Peter Rice

PRESTRESSING TENSILE WEBS

To model tensile webs of arches, the web members may have to be
prestressed by applying external prestress forces, or temperature
forces.
With respect to external prestress forces, run the structure as if it were, say
a trussed arch, and determine the compression forces in the web members,
which it naturally cannot support. Then, as a new loading case, apply an
external force, which causes enough tension in the compression member so
that never compression can occur.

With respect to temperature forces, run the structure without prestressing

it, then determine the maximum compression force in the cable members
which should not exist, then apply a negative thermal force (i.e.
temperature decrease causes shortening) to all those members thereby prestressing them, so that they all will be in tension.
To perform the thermal analysis in SAP, select the frame element, then click
Assign, then Frame/Cable Loads, and then Temperature; in the Frame
Temperature Loading dialog box select first Load Case, then Type (i.e.
temperature for uniform constant temperature difference).

20'

10'

500
0

50

50

50 0

50

50 0

Introducing to the semicircular arch a horizontal tie rod (Problem 9.3) at midheight, reduces lateral displacement of the arches due to uniform gravity
action substantially, so that the combination of gravity load and wind load
controls now the design rather than primarily uniform gravity loading for an
arch without a tie. Also the moments due to the gravity and wind load
combination are reduced since the tie remains in tension as it transfers part of
the wind load in compression to the other side of the arch. In contrast, when
the arch is braced with a trussed network , then the arch is stiffened laterally
very much, so that the uniform gravity loading case controls the design with
the corresponding smaller moments.
Similar behavior occurs for the arch placed on the diagonal (Fig. 9.14d, e). As
a pure arch its design is controlled by bending with very small axial forces as
based on gravity loading, in other words it behaves as a flexural system.
However, when prestressed tensile webbing is introduced the moments in the
arch are substantially reduced and the axial forces increased, now the arch
approaches more the behavior of an axial-flexural structure system
requiring much smaller member sizes; also here the controlling load case is
gravity plus prestressing although the design of some members is based on
dead load and prestressing. For further discussion refer to Problem

Munich Airport Center, Munich, Germany, 1997, Helmut Jahn Arch

Kempinski Hotel, Munich,

Germany, 1997, H. Jahn/Schlaich

Stone Pavilion of
the Future, EXPO
92, Seville, Spain,
Peter Rice Eng.
(Ove Arup)

Stone Pavilion of the Future, EXPO 92, Seville, Spain, Peter Rice Eng. (Ove Arup)

Inflatable arches