Empirical design of arches

Although it is uncommon to see masonry arches used in modern building construction, this form does arise in contemporary projects (Figure 2.1). Moreover, the need to evaluate masonry arches in older bridges and buildings also occurs frequently. Finally, the understanding of the functioning of the masonry arch is fundamental to the design of concrete, steel, or timber arches, and is equally necessary for the understanding of many historical architectural forms. Figure 2.2 shows a masonry arch, as used in a building application, while Figure 2.3 shows an example of a masonry arch bridge. Figure 2.4 shows some of the more commonly used terms describing an arch structure.