C'hai* f. PIERS AXD VAULTS.

373
'J'he hv'iglit of the piers being still 1 20, we have
2iKl-1mc
_ 12G'J3 92301G5
a ~ 120
I, wliich indicates the vertical effort of the half arch repre-
sented by FB, will be
wj.5
~
- -
h 473-48
a~ 120
- - , -
and
= 47;}-48
= 1 .5
-56
Tliese values being substituted in the formula, will give
x= ^/332J6^- 80-39 + 15-56 -3*95 = 16-74 lines.
1435. The sniidlest thickness of pier that would support the arch in the model was
17i
lines.
1436. With the geometrical method, instead of the double of CD, make BA double the
mean thickness HK, and B equal to mL, and on nh as a diameter describe the semicir-
cumference cutting OB produced in E ;
then EB = 18^ lines will be the thickness sought.
1 437. If the pier is continued up to the point e where the thickness of the arch is dis-
engaged from the pier, the height of the pier represented in the formula by a will be 151
-5
instead of 120, and the difference b, instead of being
--I-

- , will be only

'

= 277-46.
1438. d, expressed by le, will be 6-5, all the other values remaining the same as in the
preceding article, the equation is
ar=^/332-46-5-flT4-2=16 21.
'1439. Using the method by means of the centres of gravity, Rondelet found the result
for the thickness of the piers to be 15-84. So that there is no great variation in the dif-
ferent results.
1440. In the preceding examples arches have been considered rather as arcades standing
on piers than as vaults supported by walls of a certain length. We are now about to con-
sider them in this last resjiect, and as serving to cover the space enclosed by the walls.
In respect of cylindrical arches supported by parallel walls, it is manifest that the re-
sistance they present h;)s no relation to their length; for if we suppose the length of tlie
vault divided into an infinite ninnber of pieces, as C, D, E, &c.
{ Jiy.
584. No. 2. ), we shall
find for each of these ])ieces the same thickness of pier, so that all the ))iers togetlier would
form a wall of the same thickness. For this reason the surfaces only of the arches and
piers have been hitherto considered, that is, as profiles or sections of an arch of any given
length. Consequently it may be said that the thickness of wall found for the profile in
the section of an arch would serve for the arch continued in length infinitely, supi)osing
such walls isjlated and not terminated or rather tilled by other walls at their ends. When
cylindrical walls are terminated by walls at their extremities, after the uianner of gable
ends, it is not difficult to imagine that the less distant these walls are the more they add
stability to those of the arch. In this case may be applied a rule which we shall hereaftei
mention more at length under the following section on Walls.
1441. If in any of the examples
{fig.
582. for instance) PR be produced indefinitely to
the right, and from R on the line so produced the length of the wall supporting the arch
be set out, and if from the extremity of such line another be drawn, as TB produced
through B, indefinitely towards a, and B( be made equal to the thickness of tlie pier first
found, a vertical line let fall from a will determine the thickness sought. When arches
are connected with these cross walls, the effect of tiie thrust may be much diminished if
they are not very distant. If there be any openings in the walls, double the length of
them must be added to that of the ^^all as well as of
_
any that may be introduced in the gable wall.
1442. Fig. 583. represents the mode in which an arch
fails when the piers are not of sufficient strength to resist
the thrust: they open on the lower part of the summit at DM
and on the upper part of the haunches at HN; from which
we may infer that the thrust of an arch mav be destroyed
by crampin.j the under side of the voussoirs near the
summit and the upper side of those towards the middle of
tlie haunches
;
and this method is greatly preferalile to
chains or iron bars on the extrados, because these have
no effect in prevent.
ng
a failure on the underside. Chains
at the springing will not prevent failure in arches whose
voussoirs are of ctpial (Icjitli hut that too small, inasmuch
as there is no coiuiteraclioii tVoni them against the bulging l-'iB- 5S3