Chap. I. PIERS AND VAULTS.

359
1373. If to this experiment tlie |)riiicit)les o'' mediaiUL-s bu
applied, consideiinj^ tlie pline of 30 degrees incliiialiun ;is ;i
horizontal plane, the vertical faces KU FR may be considered
as inclined planes of 60 degrees. On this hypothesis it may l-e
demonstrated by mechanics, that to sustain a body between two
planes firming an angle of 60 degrees
{fg.
566.1, the resist-
ance of each of these planes must be to half the weight sustained
as H D is to DG, as the radius is to the sine of 30 degrees, or
as 1 is to 2.
\^^^^
Fifi. .')fi6.
EQUILIBRIUJI OF ARCHFS.
1374. The resistance of each parallelepiped represented l)y the prism ABDE (fig. .565.)
being equal to half their weight, it follows that the weight to be sustained by tlie two ])risms
should eijual one quarter of the two parallelopipeds taken together, or the half of one,
which is confirmed by the experiment. This agreement between theory and jiractice deti r-
mined Kondekt to apply the hypothesis to models of vaults composed of voussoirs and wedges
disunited, made of freestone, with the utmost exactness, the joints and
surfaces nicely wrought, as tiie parallelopipeds in the preceding example.
1375. The first model was of a semicircular arch 9 inches diameter,
comprised between two concentric semi-circumferences of circles 21 lines
apart. It was divided into 9 equal voussoirs. This arch was 17 lines
deep, and was carried on piers 2 inches and 7 lines thick. It was found,
by gradually diminishing the ])iers, which were at first 2 inches and 10
lines thick, that the thickness first named was the least which could be
assigned to resist tne thrust of the voussoirs.
1.376. The model in question is represented in
fig.
567., whereon
we have to observe, 1st. That the first voussoir, I, being placed
on a level joint, not only sustains itself, but is able to resist by
friction an effort equal to one half of its weight. 2d. That the second
voussoir, M, being upon a joint inclined 20 degrees, will also, through
friction, sustain itself; and that, moreover, these two voussoirs would
resist, previous to giving way on the joint AB, an horizontal effort e(|ual
to one half of their weight. 3d. That the third voussoir, N, standing
on a joint inclined at 40 degrees, would slide if it were not retained
by a power PN acting in an opposite direction. 4th. 'I hat taking, ac-
,||-,|. ;
cording to our hypothesis, an inclined plane of 30 degrees, whereon
r |r liii^ij ;,j
'(,
L
the stones would remain in e(]uilibrium as an horizontal one, the in- n
clined point of "10 degrees maybe considered as an inclined plane of
Fig. M7.
10 degrees, supjiosing the surfiices infinitely smooth. 5th. That the effort of the hori-
zontal power which holds this voussoir in ecjuilibrium upon its Joints will be to its weight
as the sine of 10 degrees is to its cosine, as we have, in the section on Mechanics, pre-
viously shown. (1255 et seq.)
1377. The model of the vault whereon we are speaking being but 9 inches, or 108
lines in diameter, by 21 lines for the depth of the voussoirs, that is, the width between the
two concentric circumferences, its entire superficies will be J257s(iuare lines, which, divided
l)y 9,
gives for each voussoir 473 scjuare lines. Then, letting the weight of each voussoir
be expressed by its superficies, and calling P the horizontal power, we have
P : 473:: sin. 10 : cosin. 10';
Or, P : 473:: 17365 : 98481 ;
which gives P =
8.3/g.
The fourth voussoir, being placed upon a bed inclined at 60 degrees, will be considered as
standing on a plane inclined only at 30 degrees, which gives, calling
Q,
the horizontal
power which keeps it on its joint,

Q : 473:: sin. 30
: cosin. .30^.
Or,
Q, : 473:: 50000 : 86603^
273fg.
1378. The half-keystones, being placed on a joint inclined 80 degrees, are to be considered
as standing on an inclined |)lane of 50, the area of the half key which represents its
weight being 236^. If we call R the horizontal power which sustains it on its joint, we
shall have the proportion
R ;
236i
: : sin. 50 : cosin. 50
;
or, R :
236i::76604
: 64279 ; which gives 11 =
281^5.
1379. WishiMg to ascertain if the sum of these horizontal efforts, which were necessary
to keep on th. ir joints the two voussoirs N, O, and the half-keystone, was ca))able of
thrusting away the first voussoir upon its horizontal joint AB, the half arch was laid i\o<^'
ujion a level plat.e of the same stone without piers, and it was proved that to make it give
VI
ay an hori^jcntaJ. etl'ort of more than 16 ounces was recjuired, whilst only 10 were aece.s-