ARCHES IN STRUCTURES

A CASE STUDY OF ARCHES IN AND AROUND

HYDERABAD CITY

GANESH
S. SREEPRANAVI

MAHALAKSHMI
THE TEAM MYVIN J.D.
VARMA S.
 WHAT IS AN ARCH
Definition:
An ARCH is a curved structure built in stone / Brick / concrete / steel,
that is used to span an opening and to support the loads above it.

Use of Arches:
Arches can support long spans and also provide aesthetic appearance to
the structure.

Structurally Arches are more stable than the lintels and can take more
loads by the virtue of their design.

History:
Arches were known in ancient Egypt and Greece but were not
considered suitable for monumental use. However Romans extensively
used arches in Bridges and Aqueducts and it was Arabs who used Arches
for Architectural aesthetics in buildings.
 PARTS OF AN ARCH
Crown of an Arch:
The highest part or peak point of Keystone
extrados The wedge shaped unit which is
fixed at the crown of the arch
Rise of an Arch
The clear vertical distance
between the highest point on the Voussoirs
intrados and the springing line The wedge-shaped units
of masonry which are
forming an arch

Extrados
Intrados
The outer curve of an
The inner curve of an arch
arch

Center of an Arch
The geometrical point based
Springing Points on which the arcs forming
The imaginary points intrados of arch, extrados of
which are responsible arch and arch rings
for the springing of
curve of an arch

Pier / Abutment of an Arch

The support of an arch
Span of an Arch
The clear horizontal distance
between the supports or Springing Line
abutments or piers The imaginary line joining the
springing points of either ends
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARCHES

BASED ON SHAPE
BASED ON BASED ON MATERIAL OF
NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION &
Semi-Circular CENTERS WORKMANSHIP
Flat Arch
Arch

Horseshoe Arch Acute Arch One Centered

Arch Stone Arch Brick Arch Concrete Arch

Venetian Arch Foil Arches

Two Centered Rubble Stone Precast Concrete
Arch Rough Brick Block Arch
Arch Arch
Semi Elliptical
Ogee Arch
Arch Monolithic
Three Centered
Arch Ashlars Arch Axed Brick Concrete Block
Arch Arch
Pointed Arch Ogee Arch

Four Centered
Arch Gauged Brick
Depressed Arch Segmental Arch
Arch

Five Centered
Florentine Arch Moorish Arch Arch Purpose Made
Brick Arch

Rampant Arch Parabolic Arch

Relieving Arch
TYPES OF ARCHES
 FLAT ARCH
Flat Arch is a straight rectangular Arch where, the intrados and extrodos are flat. The
Intrados and acts as a base of equilateral triangle which was formed by the horizontal
angle of 600 by skewbacks. It is given that a slight rise of camber of about 10 to 15 mm
per meter width of opening to allow for small settlements.
These flat arches are generally used for light loads, and for smaller spans.
 FLAT ARCH
Width – 30’ (approx)
Height - 25’ (approx)
Location – Entrance Arch of Public
Health Dept. Office, Saifabad
Type - Flat
Width – 15’ (Approx)
Height – 25 ‘ (Approx)
Location – Entrance, Institute of
Engineers India Building,
Khairatabad
Type - Flat
 SEMI CIRCULAR ARCH
The shape of arch curve looks like semi-circle and the thrust
transferred to the abutments is perfectly vertical direction since
skewback is horizontal. In this type of arch, the Centre lies exactly
on the springing line.
 Width – 28’9”
Height – 30’
Location – Purani Haveli Location – Pattar Ghatti Location – Rock
Type of arches – Semi Type – semi-circular arch Memorial Church ,
circular arch Masab tank
Type – Semi Circular
Arch
 HORSE SHOE ARCH
An arch struck from one or more centers below the springing point,
which forms a partial curve or eyebrow. This arch is so named
because it formed from a segment of a circle. It is an extremely
common form of arch both in stone and in brick.
Location – Purani Haveli
Type – Horse shoe arch
 ACUTE/POINTED ARCH
The shape of arch curve looks like semi-circle and the thrust
transferred to the abutments is perfectly vertical direction
since skewback is horizontal. In this type of arch, the Centre
lies exactly on the springing line.
Location – St. Mary’s Church,
Secunderabad
Type – Acute Arches
Location –St. Mary’s Church,
Secunderabad
Type – Pointed Arch
 VENETIAN ARCH
Venetian arch is also pointed arch but its crown is deeper
than springing. It contains four Centre’s, all located on the
springing line.
Location - Golkonda Fort Location - Buland Darwaza
Type - Venetian Arch Type - Venetian Arch

Width – 8’ appx
Height – 6’ appx
Location – kabutar khana
Type – 4-centred venetian arch
Location – Choumahalla Place
Type - Venetian
 FOIL ARCHES
A foil arch is an architectural device based on a symmetrical rendering of leaf
shapes, defined by overlapping circles that produce a series of cusps to make a
lobe. Typically, the number of cusps can be three (trefoil), four (quatrefoil) or five
(cinquefoil), or can be any number (multifoil).
Location – Assembly Entrance Gate
Type - Multifoil Location – St. Mary’s Church,
Secunderabad
Type – Trefoil Arch
 OGEE ARCH
A pointed arch, each haunch of which is double curve with the concave side
uppermost.
Width - 11 meters
Height - 20 meters (from the centre)
Location - Charminar
Type - Ogee
Width – 6’3”
Height – 9’7”
Location – Charminar 1st floor
Type -Ogee
Width -
Height -
Location –Mecca Masjid
Type –Ogee
Materials – granite ( took 5 yrs
of quarry)
 Location – Golkonda Fort
Type –Ogee

Location – Pattar Ghatti

Type –Ogee
 SEMIELLIPTICAL ARCH
An Elliptical Arch has the shape of half an ellipse in its construction. 
The ellipses are often  approximated by three adjoining circular arcs.
Location – Chowmahalla Palace
Type – Elliptical
Location – Purani Haveli
Type – Elliptical
 DEPRESSED ARCH
A four - centered arch, also known as a depressed arch or Tudor arch, is
a low, wide type of arch with a pointed apex. It is much wider than its
height and gives the visual effect of having been flattened under
pressure. Its structure is achieved by drafting two arcs which rise
steeply from each springing point on a small radius, and then turning
into two arches with a wide radius and much lower springing point.
Location –Golkonda Fort
Type – Depressed
Location –Nizamia Unani Hospital,
Near Charminar,
Type – Depressed
Location –Electricity Board
Office, Near Mint Compound
Type – Depressed

Location –New Secretariat

Entrance Complex
Type – Depressed
 SEGMENTAL ARCH
An arch struck from one or more centers below the springing point, which forms
a partial curve or eyebrow. This arch is so named because it formed from a
segment of a circle. It is an extremely common form of arch both in stone and in
brick.
 FLORENTINE ARCH
Intrados of arch is in the shape of semi-circle and rest of the arch is similar to
Venetian arch. It has three Centre’s, all located on the springing line.
 MOORISH ARCH
A  Horseshoe Arch with pointed apex is called a Moorish Arch.
 RAMPANT ARCH
An arch in which the impost on one side is higher than that on the other
is called a Rampant Arch.
 PARABOLIC/SPLITTED ARCH
A parabolic arch is an  arch, shaped like a parabola. The parabolic arch employs
the principle that when weight is uniformly applied above, the internal
compression resulting from that weight will follow a parabolic curve. Of all arch
types, the parabolic arch produces the most thrust at the base. Also, it can span
the widest area. It is commonly used in bridge design, where long spans are
needed.[
 RELIEVING ARCH
Relieving arch is constructed above flat arch or on a wooden lintel to provide greater
strength. In case of relieving arch, we can replace the decayed wooden lintel easily
without disturbing the stability of structure. The ends of this arch should be carried
sufficiently into the abutments.
THANK
YOU