A bridge shaped as an upward convex curved arch to sustain the vertical loads. It works by transferring its weight and other loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the strong abutments at either side?

• A. Arch Bridges
• B. Keystone
• C. Pipeline Bridges
• D. Aqueduct Bridge

Answer: (A)

An upward convex curved arch carries loads by turning vertical forces into compression along the curve and pushing outward at the ends. The arch’s shape directs the load along its curve, and the horizontal thrust at the supports must be restrained by strong abutments to prevent the arch from spreading. This balancing act—compression along the arch with restrained horizontal thrust at the supports—is the defining behavior of arch bridges. The central keystone is just the locking piece in the arch’s crown, not the overall type. Bridges described as pipelines or aqueducts refer to what they carry or their purpose rather than the structural action that transfers loads. So the described mechanism matches an arch bridge.