Engineering and Construction

Arch bridges (Fig. 4.5) are suitable in particular site conditions. An example is  a medium single span over a ravine where an arch with spandrel  columns will efficiently carry a deck with the horizontal thrust taken directly to rock.A tied arch is suitable for a single span where construction depth is limited and presence of curved highway geometry or other obstruction to the approaches conflicts with the back stays of a cable-stayed bridge.

Fig. 4.5 Arch bridges. (a) Spandrel post arch; (b) tied arch; (c) part tied arch