What is Arches in Building Construction?

Whenever I visit churches or any historical monument, I feel most fascinated by the arches of the building. My uncle is an architect and I always blast him with questions related to

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arches in building construction or if any other design fascinates me in a building. And he answers me very calmly. He told me that

any building must have apertures in the walls for the installation of doors, windows, cabinets, almirahs, closets, etc. These openings can be created by adding a lintel or an arch. Thus, the arch and the lintel are structural components designed to hold loads of the wall part above the openings and then transfer those loads to the adjacent wall segments over which they are supported. I will share with you all that my uncle has told me about

arches in building construction.

A structural configuration of wedge-shaped brick or stone blocks that support one another is known as an arch. The whole arch is sustained at both ends by pillars or retaining walls. The wedge-shaped components, such as bricks, boulders, or concrete slabs, are positioned in such a way along the curving lines that they balance one another's weight and only exert vertical pressure that can be safely borne by supports below.

What are the functions of arches in buildings?

Lintels are straightforward and simple to build, whereas an arch needs careful centring and formwork. However, arches are built in places where

(i) The span is greater

(ii) The loads are large

(iii) Strong abutments are accessible and

(iv) A distinctive architectural style is necessary.

Different Components of an Arch

The various arch components and words used in arch building are as follows:

Intrados refers to an arch's internal curve.

Extrados refers to an arch's outside curve.

Soffit refers to an arch's interior surface. Intrados and soffit are used interchangeably.

Voussoirs are wedge-shaped masonry pieces that make up an arch.

The crown of an extrados is its highest point and highest portion.

Keystone refers to the wedge-shaped item fastened to the arch's crown.

When two arches are built side by side, a curving triangular area with the foundation as a straight axis through the crown results. The term "spandrel" refers to this area.

This is the splayed or inclined surface on the abutment where the arch curve begins or terminates.

The term "springing points" refers to the fictitious places that cause an arch's curvature to spring.

The term "springing line" refers to the hypothetical line connecting the springing points at either end.

Springer refers to the initial voussoir at the spring level that is right next to the skewback.

Haunch refers to the lowest portion of the arch between both the crown and skewback.

Arcade refers to a continuous row of arches.

Arch ring refers to the circular path that forms an arch. One ring alone or a group of rings combined can create an arch.

To emphasise the springing line, a projecting course is offered on the upper portion of a pier or abutment. The name of this course is impost.

Bed joints are the intersections of the voussoirs. These bed joints extend outward from the arch's core.

The centre or striking point is the geometrical point used to explain the arcs producing intrados of the arch, extrados of the arch, and arch rings.

The span of an arch is the unobstructed distance measured between the supports, abutments, or piers.

Rise is the unambiguous distance measured between the intrados' highest point and the springing line.

The depth or elevation of an arch is the angle formed between both the intrados of the arch and the extrados of the arch.

This is the soffit's width, which is determined by measuring parallel to an arch's front and back sides.

The term "pier" refers to an arch's middle support. The abutment is the name for an arch's end support.

I hope now you too know all about arches in building construction.