Elastic Arch Bridges

By

Conde B. McCullough
Bridge Engineer, Oregon State Highway Department Structural Engineering Consultant, Engineering Experiment Station Oregon State College And

Edward S. Thayer
Designing Engineer, Oregon State Highway Department 1931

PREFACE In this volume the writers have endeavored to present, as briefly as is consistent with the rather complex nature of the subject matter, a discussion of the mathematical theory of elasticity as applied to the design of arch bridges, with special reference to certain newer developments in the field of arch analysis. Chapters I to V inclusive (and perhaps Chapter VII) are arranged with a view to utilization not only as a reference work, but also as a text for undergraduate students in structural engineering, whereas Chapters VI, VIII and IX are suitable for graduate student work, or for a reference or office manual. The greater portion of the text has been developed by the writers from their own personal experience and observation, and illustrated with arch bridges designed and constructed under their direction. This was done not because of any peculiar inherent excellence in these designs, or any particular suitability for purposes of illustration, but because of the fact that the authors were more familiar with these particular structures and could, therefore, speak with more authority regarding the problems involved in their design. Throughout the volume it has been the writers endeavor to develop a definite and coherent method of structural thought rather than to compile a design manual, for which reason very little space has been accorded to a discussion of details, or such problems as pier and abutment design, the design and construction of foundations, and the like, all of which are already more or less completely covered in current American engineering literature. Matters such as loadings, permissible unit stresses, field control and manipulation of materials, and like specification requirements, have received only the merest mention because of the extent to which data in reference to these are already available. Chapter I comprises a general discussion of the arch as a structural type together with a brief history of its development, while in Chapter II will be found a rather comprehensive treatment of those fundamental structural principles which form the groundwork for the rigorous development of the elastic theory. Certain portions of the material in Chapter II are perhaps not absolutely essential from the standpoint of arch formula derivation, but it is believed that a complete resume of this character will operate to give the student a clearer concept of basic elastic relationships than any other method of approach.