Arch

An arch is a curved structural form that carries loads through compression, transferring them outward and downward to its supports. Its stability depends on the shape of the curve and the strength and position of its supports.

Arch thrust: The outward force an arch exerts on its supports as it carries a load. It is the horizontal component of the force that the supports must resist.
Compression (mechanics): A force or stress that presses material together along an axis. Masonry arches carry loads mainly by compressing their stones.
Roman arch: A semicircular arch widely used in Roman architecture and engineering. Roman builders used it in gateways, aqueducts, amphitheaters, and bridges.
Lintel: A horizontal beam spanning an opening and supported at both ends. Unlike an arch, a lintel carries its load primarily through bending.
Line of thrust: The path through a structure along which compressive forces are transmitted. An arch remains stable when this path stays within its masonry.
Statics: The branch of mechanics that studies forces on bodies in equilibrium. An arch must balance vertical loads and horizontal thrust to remain at rest.
Arch bridge: A bridge whose primary load-bearing structure is one or more arches. Its deck loads pass through the arch into abutments or piers.
Truss: A framework of connected members arranged in triangles to carry loads. A truss distributes loads through tension and compression in straight members.
Keystone: The central wedge-shaped stone at the crown of a masonry arch. It locks the neighboring voussoirs into a continuous compressive structure.
Masonry: Construction made by assembling units such as stone, brick, or concrete blocks. Traditional arches rely on masonry units that resist compression but little tension.

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