ARCHPRESENTATION MADE BY:

KARELIA DIAZVANESSA QUINTERO

CONTENTS

• WHAT IS AN ARCH?

• ARCH THROUGH THE AGES

• HOW IS IT CONSTRUCTED?

• TYPES OF ARCHES

WHAT IS AN ARCH?

It’s a structure that spans a space and supports structure and weight above it.

The arch can be called a curved lintel.

Triumph Arch, Paris

ARCH THROUGH THE AGES

Porta Augusta, Etruscan building where the arch is

combined with Greek ideas.

Etruscans:

The arch was used in any

kind of monument.

-Gates, bridges, drains-

RomansThey took many great strides in the development of the arch.

They invented the idea of setting an arch on top of two tall pedestals to span a walkway such as a public highway.

Triumphal arch

The Romans used arches for:

- Bridges

- Aqueducts

- Gates

- Entrances

- A symbol of military victory

Barrel vault

Groined vault

COLOSSEUM: Its outer wall appears composed almost completely of arches.

MEDIEVAL TIMES

Arches and butresses were used for supporting great weight of stone ceilings in cathedrals.

Arches were also often found in long rows in cathedrals to help supporting each other.

The pointed arch began to be developed.

Reims Cathedral

Milan Cathedral

ISLAMIC CULTUREThe Islamic arch was found about the same time in the Middle East.

Horseshoe-shaped arch Stacked arches

HOW IS AN ARCH

CONSTRUCTED?• Arches are made of wedge-shaped blocks, called voussoirs.

• The topmost voussoir is called the keystone.

• Most arches require support from other arches, walls, or buttresses.

•

• In reinforced concrete construction, the principle of the arch is used so as to benefit from the concrete's strength in resisting compressive stress.

• Arches have many forms, but all fall into three basic categories: Circular, pointed, and parabolic. Arches can also be configured to produce vaults and arcades.

TYPES OF ARCHES

• Rounded arch

Arches with a circular form. Were commonly employed by the builders of ancient, heavy masonry arches.

Several rounded arches placed in-line, end-to-end, form an arcade, such as the Roman aqueduct.

• Arcade

• Pointed arches

This innovation allowed for taller and more closely spaced openings, typical of Gothic architecture.

•Vaults“Adjacent arches that are assembled side by side.“

“Strongly expressed ribs at the vault intersections, were dominant architectural features of Gothic cathedrals.”

•Parabolic arches

Of any arch type, the parabolic arch produces the most thrust at the base, but can span the largest areas.

It is commonly used in bridge design, where long spans are needed.

CONCLUSION

Nowadays, using construction materials, like iron and steel, allows new ways of designing a modern arch. Also, structural inventions provide a great freedom of design and a means of covering great spans without a massive substructure.

This structure is the witness of human history and evolution of architecture.

REFERENCES

• http://theriverlands.tripod.com/Writings/Arch/arch.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_bridge

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. 1. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1974, pp. 1098 - 1099.