Three-hinged arch

Bridges are often constructed as three-hinged arches. This type of construction is particularly suitable when compression-proof building materials are available. Horizontal thrust occurs in the arch at the supports. It permits much lower bending moments in the arch than in the case of a beam on two supports with the same span. A significant longitudinal compressive force is active in the arch to produce this effect.

• investigation of 2 statically determinate three-hinged arches
• hinged arch with 3 hinges: 1 crown hinge, 2 abutment hinges at the support points
• 3 arch segments: 2x long (together making a symmetrical arch), 1x short (together with 1x long: unsymmetrical arch)
• arch subjected to point load, line load (each by loads) or moving load
• loads to compensate for the support reactions of an abutment hinge
• storage system to house the components
• experimental setup in frame