CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

UNIT 3: CHAPTER 5: LINTELS AND ARCHES

INTRODUCTION:
Lintels and arches are the structural members which are used in a building to
Bridge across the opening of Doors Windows for cupboards etc. To support the
weight of the superimposed masonry.
An arch supports the load by arch action whereas the lintel acts like a beam and
transfer load vertically to supporting walls.

LINTELS:
1. Lintels are small beams provided over the small openings of Doors,
Windows, wardrobes, verandahs, etc. In the end of the lentils are built in the
masonry and they transfer the load coming over them onto the wall on which
they rest.
2. Lentils are made of different materials such as wood lintels have become
outdated. Present trend is to use only reinforced brick and reinforced cement
concrete lintels in public as well as residential buildings. Instead of lintel over
openings only continuous lintel bands are usually provided in buildings such
lentils are necessary in expansive soil for earthquake resistant design.
Cut lintels: They span single opening. In this case length of the lintel equal to
width of opening plus bearing on both sides.
Continuous or through lintels instead of lintels over openings only continuously
inter bonds are usually provided in the buildings. They span a number of
openings and usually run over the entire wall.
REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE LINTELS:
1. Reinforced cement concrete lintels: These lintles have replaced practically all
other type of lintels because of their strength rigidity fire resistance economic
and ease in construction.
2. RCC lintel consists of Steel reinforcement embedded in cement concrete.
3. This can be used on any span. Its width is kept equal to the width of the wall
full stop the depth of RCC lintel and the reinforcement depends upon the span
and magnitude of loading.
4. Cement concrete is a material which is very strong in compression but
comparatively very weak in tension.

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5.To overcome this weakness Steel reinforcement is provided to take up tensile

stresses. RCC lintels are usually constructed with M 15 cement concrete.
6. For the construction of RCC lintel a form work is to be constructed over the
form reinforcement is placed and embedded in cement concrete and allowed to
set.
7. After three or four days the temporary site supports are removed and the
lintel is kept wet for 7 to 10 days. If opening over which lintel is to be used have
to be provided with Chejja it may be casted along with the lintel.

SUNSHADES AND SUN BREAKERS:

To protect the doors Windows and ventilators from direct sun rays or rainwater
horizontal projections from the walls are provided along with their lintel which
are called sun shades full stop these are only provided to the external walls.
1. Horizontal Sun Shades protect the door Windows and ventilator up apart
from the rain and sun rays.
2. When these openings are facing towards north or North East this sunshade
serve the purpose. But if the openings of Windows are facing towards south,
west or south west the horizontal Sun Shades provides at the top are insufficient
to protect the door and Windows from sun rays full stop in this case vertical
projections are provided along the windows in addition to horizontal sunshade
which are called sun breakers.
3. The location inclination and size of these depend upon the position of Sun at
peak hours. The sun Breakers are most essential for comfortable living in the
rooms because in their absence the room will become so hot that it will be
practically very difficult to sit in the particular rooms facing west in the
afternoon.

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4. The sun shines are 75mm at the cantilever end and tapered upwards towards
the depth of lintel. Average projection of sunshade will be 600-900mm and it
should be sufficient to safely cover the open window shutters from rain and sun
rays.

CANOPY:
Cantilever projection from the face of the wall over an entry to the building at
the lintel or slap level is known as canopy.
It is provided in such a way that:
1. It shall not project beyond the plotline.
2. It shall not be lower than
3. 3metres when measured from the ground.
4. There shall be no structure on it and the top shall remain open to sky.
Canopy may be designed as semi-circular rectangular or any other shapes to
make structural attractive. Sometimes canopies are provided at the entrance of
building to give any elegant look and also to protect the building from rain and
Sun.

PORCH OR PORTICO:
1. Portico means roof cover supported on Pillars for cantilever projection for the
purpose pedestrian or vehicular approach to a building.
2. Porch is a covered shelter projection in front of the entrance of a house or
building in general.
3. The structure is external to the walls of the building but it may be enclosed in
certain types of frames including walls columns or screens extending from main
structure.

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PLINTH BEAMS:
Basically plinth beam connects all pillars and serves as the best for construction
of walls. Plinth beam is a part of structure which can transfer load two adjacent
columns.
1. A plinth beam is constructed depending upon the type of structure of
building and nature of the soil.
2. It provides additional stability in regard to settlements of building and
earthquake damages.
3. In RCC frame structure plinth acts as a tie as a beam at ground level
itself.
4. Plinth beam is usually provided above the ground level and just below
the ground floor level.
5. It is made of RCC with Dept usually 152 to 30 mm and width equal to the
wall thickness. 5. They also serve to provide the DPC course.

GRADE BEAMS:
1. Grade beam is a type of foundation system used to distribute the weight
of a building over and unstable soil.
2. The grade beam may sit directly on the loose soil or be supported by pipe
pilings that extend deep underground.
3. Great beings are provided in between isolated Foundation.
4. These beings connect columns on isolated footing and construct the the
walls over grade beams.
5. This beam should be stronger than plinth beams.
6. Where the load is transmitted through columns or pairs the
superstructure is carried on Grade beams resting on these columns.

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7. The Beam is necessary replaced close to the surface of the ground. It is a

good practice to avoid contact of these grade beams with oil to prevent
action of swelling of soil on the being.
8. It is best to leave the space between grid beams and the ground surface
empty with Dwarfs wall protection on the two faces to prevent entry of
materials.
9. The minimum recommended depth of a grade beam should be 150 mm.

ARCHES:
>An arch is a mechanical arrangement of wedge shaped bricks or blocks of
stones mutually supporting each other and being supported on abutments and
pairs built in the form of some curve.
> Due to wedge like form the unit support each other the lot tends to make
them compact and enables them to transmit pressure downwards to the
support.
> Wedge shaped blogs are joined generally with rich cement mortar or lime
mortar.

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COMPONENTS OF ARCH:

1. Voussoirs: wedge-shaped units of plain cement concrete stone or brick

house of which the arc ring is made are known as voussoirs. They are
sometimes known as arch blogs arch stones.
2. Key stone: it is the highest Central wedge shaped unit of an arch.
3. Springing Points: these are the points of intersection between the skew
backs and the introdos and from these points only the curve of an arch
springs or commences.
4. Springing line: this is the Imaginary horizontal line joining the two
Springing points.
5. Springers: these are the extreme voussoirs of an arch. The lower most
points from where the earth starts are called springing points.
6. Abutments: these are the extreme or and supports of an arch. The
abutments are designed to receive the incline thirst from one or more
arches, are therefore made of ample size and weight.
7. Piers: these are the intermediate supports of an Arcade.
8. Intrados: it is is under surface of an Earth. It is also known as soffit.
9. Arcade: the series of arches adjoining each Other is called an Arcade.
10. Extrados: This is an upper or external curve of the arch.
11. Skew back: it is the name given to the inclined supports of an arch.
12. Crown: it is the highest point of the arch.
13. Key: this is the uppermost or central voussoirs of an arch
14. Spandril: the irregular triangular portion of the Arcade found between
the two arches.
15. Haunch: it is the lower half portion of the earth from the spring into the
made wale to the Crown from either side.
16. Span: this is the clear horizontal distance between two supports.
17. Bed joints: these are the joints between the voussoirs the witch radiate
from the centre.

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18. Soffit: it is the inner surface of an arch.

19. Ring: is this circular course forming an arch.
20. Depth or height: this is the perpendicular distance between the intrados
and extrados.
21. Centre of the arch: it is the geometrical centre of the curve of an arch.
22. Rise of the arch: it is the clear vertical distance between the springing
line and highest point of the introdos.

TYPES OF ARCHES:
Based on the shape of the archer, arches are classified as:
1. Flat arch
2. Segmented arch
3. Semi circular arch
4. Pointed arch or goithic arch
5. Venetian arch
6. Florentine arch
7. Relieving arch
8. Stilled arch
9. Semi elliptical arch

1. FLAT ARCH:
 This arch is not given any rice full stop it is constructed from
specially cut blocks and bricks or stones.
 A flat arch as usually the angle formed by the skew backs as 60
degree with horizontal. Thus forming an equilateral triangle with
intrados as the base.
 The introduce is apparently flat but it is given a slight rise of
camber of about 10 to 15 mm per metre with of opening to allow
for small settlements. However extrados is kept horizontal and flat.
 Arches are used only for light loads and for span up to 1.5 metres.

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2. SEGMENTAL ARCH:
 Is strongest type of Arch and is used their strength is required.
 It is in the shape of segment of circle.
 Rise of the earth will be less than the span.
 This is common type of Arch used for building.
 The centre of earth lies below the Springing line.
 The thrust transferred to the abutment is an incline direction.
 When used over a lintel segmental arch is termed as relieving arch.

3. SEMI CIRCULAR ARCH:

 This is the modification of segmental Arch in which the centre lies
on Springing line.
 The shape of the earth curve is that of semicircle.
 The thirst transfer to the abutments is perfectly in vertical direction
since the skew back is horizontal.

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4. HORSE SHOE ARCH:

The shape of this earth is similar to the horse shoe and hence the name
full stop the Rise of the arch is more than the half of span of the arch.
Such type of Arch is provided mainly from architectural considerations.

COMPARISION BETWEEN LINTELS AND ARCHES:

Sl no PARAMETER ARCH LINTEL
1. Structural aspect Curved structural member. Horizontal structural
member
2. Nature of loads It exerts horizontal thrust It exerts only vertical
on supports and vertical pressure on its pressure on its supports.
support.
3. Construction It is difficult to construct. It is easier to construct.
4. Abutments Strong abutments are Normal end supports are
required to withstand arch sufficient.
thrust.
5. Stability Less stable. More stable.
6. Head room to More Less
span opening
7. Pre cast units Pre cast arches are not Pre cast lintel units are
available. available.

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