In an arch bridge, the central stone that locks into place is called the keystone?

Discover the essentials of bridge engineering. Study with interactive quizzes, detailed questions, hints, and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test with engaging content and insight into exam expectations and formats. Achieve success on your exam today!

Multiple Choice

In an arch bridge, the central stone that locks into place is called the keystone?

Explanation:
The keystone is the central wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch. Its shape locks the surrounding voussoirs in place, turning the arch into a self-supporting, compressive structure. As the load from above pushes downward, the keystone wedges the others tighter, causing them to press against one another and transfer forces into the abutments at the ends. Without the keystone, the arch would lose its locking action and could spread outward. Abutments are the end supports, spandrel is the space between the arch and the bounding surfaces, and the deck is the roadway surface on top. So the central locking stone is the keystone.

The keystone is the central wedge-shaped stone at the crown of an arch. Its shape locks the surrounding voussoirs in place, turning the arch into a self-supporting, compressive structure. As the load from above pushes downward, the keystone wedges the others tighter, causing them to press against one another and transfer forces into the abutments at the ends. Without the keystone, the arch would lose its locking action and could spread outward. Abutments are the end supports, spandrel is the space between the arch and the bounding surfaces, and the deck is the roadway surface on top. So the central locking stone is the keystone.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy