Arches and Cables

for 4th semester B.E, KLEIT,

Hubballi - 580027
Prof. Sandesh S. Huggi
Contents
 Introduction
 Types of Arches
 Introduction to Three Hinged Arches
 Different Types
 Derivation
Introduction:
 Beams transfer the applied load to end by
bending and Shear action. In this process
either one or two points at particular
section is subjected to maximum stress.
 The material in most of portion is under
stressed and hence is under utilized. The
horizontal distance from one support to
another is called span.
 For large spans like bridges, arches are
provided in stead of beams. Arches are
curved beams that transfer loads to their
planes.
 Arches transfer loads to abutments at
springing points. Hinges may be provided at
springing points.
 The top most point is called crown.
 The height of the crown above support
level is called rise.
 Typical Arch Bridge

 Due to curved nature of arches, they give

rise to horizontal forces.
 Abutments are designed for horizontal
forces also.
 Any section in the arch is subjected to
normal thrust, radial shear and bending
moment.
 Loads in the arches partly transferred by
axial compression and partly by flexure

Typical Arch Bridge

Different types of Arches
There are mainly three types of arches that are commonly
used in practice:
 Three hinged arch,
 Two-hinged arch
 Fixed-fixed arch or Hingeless arch
 Three-hinged arch is
statically determinate
structure and its reactions /
internal forces are evaluated
by static equations of
equilibrium.
 Two-hinged arch and fixed-
fixed arch are statically
indeterminate structures.
The indeterminate reactions
are determined by the
method of least work or by
the flexibility matrix method.
Three Hinged Arch Bridges

Two Hinged Arch Bridges

Three Hinged Arches:
 Three hinged arches is statically determinate structure and its
reaction and internal forces are evaluated by static equations of
equilibrium.
 Arches transfer loads to abutments at springing points.
 The horizontal distance between one support to another support is
called span.
 The Top most point of the arch is called crown.
 The height of the crown above the support level is called rise.

Figure 1:Three Hinged Arch

Types of Three Hinged Arch:
There are two types of three-hinged arches according to the shape of the
structure.
 Circular three-hinged arch
 Parabolic three-hinged arch
 Circular three hinged arch
From the property of a circle, the radius ‘R’ of the circular arch of span ‘L’ and rise ‘h’

Taking ‘A’ as origin at support, the

coordinates of any point ‘D’ on the arch is:
Parabolic three-hinged arch
 In the case of a parabolic arch, taking the springing point as the
origin its equation

Parabolic arch with origin at ‘A’

𝑥2
 If the crown is taken as the origin, the equation of the parabolic curve = =a
𝑦
If Springing points are at same level:

Parabolic arch with origin at

‘Crown’
If Springing points are at different level:
 Let h1 and h2 is the depth of the abutments from the crown
and let ‘L’ is the span.
Cables
Introduction:
 Cables are flexible structures that support the applied
transverse loads by the tensile resistance developed in its
members.
 Cables are used in suspension bridges, tension leg offshore
platforms, transmission lines, and several other engineering
applications.
 The distinguishing feature of a cable is its ability to take
different shapes when subjected to different types of loadings.
 Under a uniform load, a cable takes the shape of a curve, while
under a concentrated load, it takes the form of several linear
segments between the load’s points of application.
Stayed Cable Bridge over Neva River, St. Peetersburg
Suspension Bridge
 Cables are used as temporarily guys during the erection and as
permanent guys for supporting masts and towers.
 Cables are used in the suspension bridges. A suspension bridge
consists of two cables with the number of suspenders (hangers)
which support the roadway.
 Figure 1 shows a typical suspension bridges in which the cable
is supported over towers:
 To reduce the bending moment in the towers anchor cables are
provided.
 The central sag or dip of the cable varies from 1/10 th to 1/15
th of span.
 The cables will be having either guided pulley support or roller
pulley support as shown in Figure 2 below.

 In case of pedestrian suspension bridges, suspenders support

the roadway directly.
 For heavy traffic, large spans stiffening girders are provided to
support the roadway as shown in Figure 3.
 Laksman Jhula (Rishikesh) and Howrah bridge (Kolkatta) are
popular example of suspension bridges.
 Since, the number of suspenders are very large, the load on the
cable may be taken as uniformly distributed load.
 Equilibrium of Cables:
 A cable is a flexible structure which can not resist Bending Moment.
 In deflected shape of cable, the bending moment at any point of
cable is zero which is achieved by developing horizontal thrust at
the support.

 Consider the cable shown in Figure 4, which is subjected to various

loads.
 Let the horizontal force developed at support is H.
 Let the vertical reactions at support A and B is VA and VB respectively
At section X-X, let the deflection be ‘y’.

 Moment at section x-x = Mx = VA x – W1 (x-a1 ) – W2 (x-a2 ) – H y

 Since the cable is flexible, Mx = 0.
 Therefore, H y = VA x – W1 (x-a1 ) – W2 (x-a2 ).
 H y = Beam Moment.
 The loaded cable can be analyzed by using above equation at any segment of
cable.