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Catenary arch

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A mudbrick catenary arch
A catenary curve (left) and a catenary arch, also a catenary curve (right). One points up, and one points down, but the curves are the same.

A catenary arch (also see pointed arch) is an architectural feature, common in cathedrals, and common in Gothic arches used in Gothic architecture,[1]

Technically, a catenary arch is an "inverted catenary shape"; see right lower illustration. It is not a parabolic arch.

One note on history

Robert Hooke, engineer, holding a hanging chain, which forms a catenary curve

Catenary arches are old. A 1788 note written by Thomas Jefferson reads, I have lately received from Italy a treatise on the equilibrium of arches, by the Abbé Mascheroni. It appears to be a very scientifical work. I have not yet had time to engage in it; but I find that the conclusions of his demonstrations are, that every part of the catenary is in perfect equilibrium. [2]

Note on history

The scientist Robert Hooke observed, "Ut pendet continuum flexile, sic stabit contiguum rigidum inversum", or, "As hangs a flexible cable so, inverted, stand the touching pieces of an arch." [3]

Ability to withstand weight

What makes the catenary arch important is its ability to withstand weight,[4][5] For an arch of uniform density and thickness, supporting only its own weight, the catenary is the ideal curve,.[6]

This is done by a catenary curve: Catenary arches are strong, as they redirect the vertical force of gravity into compression forces pressing along the arch's curve. In a uniformly loaded catenary arch, the line of thrust runs through its center,.[7][8]

Examples

Cathedrals and churches

St Paul's Cathedral's dome

Natural arches

Landscape Arch, Utah

Utah’s Kolob Arch has a catenary shape,[17] as does Landscape Arch,.[18]

Human-made arches

The Gateway Arch in the American city of Saint Louis, Missouri,.[19]

Due to aspect ratio, the top being thinner than the bottom, its actual shape is technically a "weighted catenary",.[20]

High-rises

Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis

Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis used catenary arches,.[21][22]

Kilns

Kilns are often designed with catenary arch cross-section,.[23]

Igloos

Igloos are designed with catenary arch cross-section,.[24]

Ancient Egyptians

Saqqara ostracon

The unfinished Saqqara ostracon has a catenary shape,.[25]

Other architecture

The inside of Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station forms a catenary arch,[26]

The Nubian ton is a burial vault, of Nubia, For greatest stability, the structure’s cross-section follows a catenary arch,.[27]

The beehive homes (clocháns) of Ireland’s Skellig Michael have a cross-section that follows the style of a catenary arch,.[28]

Homes

Rice House

The Rice House has catenary arches,.[29]

Hotels

The Icehotel in Sweden employs catenary arches,.[30]

Bridges

A catenary bridge has the form of a catenary arch.

One famous example is the An-Lan Bridge, in China,.[31]

Monuments

Taq Kasra

In Iraq, the Taq Kasra has the shape of a catenary arch,.[32]

Airports

The roof of Washington Dulles International Airport is an suspended catenary curve,.[33]

A catenary steel cable system supports the roof of Denver International Airport,.[34]

A beehive home (a clochan) on Dingle Peninsula, Kerry, Ireland

Train stations

New York City’s Pennsylvania Station has a roof, in the form of a catenary arch,.[35]

Banks

On the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the building has been remodeled, but still visible is the catenary arch suspending the original building,.[36]

Mud huts

Cameroon's musgum mud huts have a catenary cross-section,.[37][38]

Toothpick bridges

Toothpick bridges are catenary arches,.[39]

Home-made arches

Home-made arches tend to be catenary arches,.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Richard L. Handy. "The Perfect Dome".
  2. ^ Thomas Jefferson. "Jefferson quote". Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ "The enigma of Robert Hooke". The enigma of Robert Hooke. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. ^ "St. Louis Gateway Arch". enchantedlearning.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Building an arch that can stand up by iteself". strath.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. ^ "The inverted catenary arch". zonedome.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Build an arch that can stand up by itself" (PDF).
  8. ^ Karl Robin Nilsson. "Getting the arch back into architecture" (PDF).
  9. ^ "The British Architect". google.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Maths in a minute: St Paul's dome". maths.org. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. ^ Nora Hamerman and Claudio Rossi. "Brunelleschi's Dome" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Casa Batlló". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  13. ^ "The Catenary Arch". naturalhomes.org. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  14. ^ "The Geometry of Antoni Gaudi". slu.edu. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Catenary Method" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Colònia Güell". barcelonaturisme.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. ^ Jay H. Wilbur. "The Dimensions of Kolob Arch".
  18. ^ Cincinnati Cache Collectors. "Landscape Arch".
  19. ^ "Modern Steel Construction" (PDF).
  20. ^ Robert Osserman. "How the Gateway arch got its Shape" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Marquette Plaza Property Information". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Platinum Plaza" (PDF). 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  23. ^ Ken Nagakui (1926). "Kiln Building". Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  24. ^ Dan Cruickshank. "What house-builders can learn from igloos". Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  25. ^ "An Ancient Egyptian Catenary Construction Curve". 1926.
  26. ^ ,"Keleti Railway Station".
  27. ^ "Nubian Ton".
  28. ^ "Beehive Homes".
  29. ^ "Rice House".
  30. ^ "Icehotel - facts". ICEHOTEL. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Suspension Bridge". uoregon.edu. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  32. ^ Chris J K Williams. "Taq Kasra" (PDF).
  33. ^ , Jackie Craven. "Dulles Airport".
  34. ^ "Denver International Airport".
  35. ^ David W. Dunlap (1926). "Penn Station's 5th Redesign Fails to Charm Some Critics".
  36. ^ "100 Years of the Ninth District Fed - Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis". minneapolisfed.org. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  37. ^ "musgum earth architecture". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  38. ^ Katy Purviance. "Architecture Addiction, The Official Blog of". Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  39. ^ "The Toothpick Bridge". pisymphony.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.

Category:Catenary arches

Category:Catenary

Category:Arches

Category:Naturally occurring catenaries

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