Category: Arches and Lintels

The purpose of providing a lintel is just the same as that of an arch. Lintels take the load of the wall above the opening and transfer to the walls. The effective load causing on a lintel is shown in Fig. 19.7. The lintels are easy and simple in construction and do not need special…

A lintel is a horizontal structural member placed to span openings for doors, windows and corridors. Lintels are usually rectangular in shape. Lintels may be made out of several materials such as wood, stone, brick, reinforced brickwork, RCC or rolled steel sections embedded in cement concrete. Reinforced cement concrete lintels are mostly used these days…

Sandbox method may be followed, which permits removal of centring without any shock. Releasing of wedges in order may also be followed. Whatever may be the material used for centring, the design should be proper such that the centring is lowered with ease and without any shock.

Skewbacks at the springing of the arch are prepared first and placed very carefully in the correct angles. Voussoirs are then laid on either side of the crown. In case of brick arch, bricks may be placed as showing stretcher-face or header-face. More than one ring may be used. Joints are to be filled with…

Arches are generally built over a centring made to the shape of the arch needed. The centring is a temporary structure which has to support the arch till it develops strengths. For small spans, mud masonry is used. The masonry is made to the shape of the soffit of the arch to be built and…

Construction of arches is done under the following three operations:

Now-a-days, only RCC arches are used. Here, the blocks are similar to stone voussoirs and of precast type. These arches are used only for ornamental purposes.

The following four types of brick arches are in use: The above classification is based on the type of bricks used in the arch construction. The different types of bricks which can be used for arches are as follows: In gaughed arches, bricks are cut to the required wedge shapes so as to suit the…

Ashlar and rubble masonry are best for arch construction. Ashlar arches are constructed of stones which are cut and dressed to their true wedge shapes. Ashlar arches are used for superior work and have a good appearance. Ashlar arches can also be made to give a flat arch appearance (Fig. 19.3). These flat arches are…

Materials used for arches are stone, brick and concrete. A classification based on number of centres is discussed in Section 19.2.3. A classification of arches based on materials is also feasible which are discussed below.