Stone Arch Design 1

[Kjogle]

I have a client that wants to build an underground vault with an arched stone ceiling. The span is 12’, height above springline is 3’, desired thickness is about 12” and the length is 15'. The overall inside headroom is about 8’-6”. Ground cover above the crown is about 1’-0”. Does anyone have any design data? Thanks.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

See "A Treatise on Masonry Construction", by I. O. Baker. This 552 page book (published in 1889) can be downloaded from this link:

http://books.google.com/books?id=zJNIAAAAMAAJ

An extensive discussion of stone arch design and construction begins on page 440. For a project like this it may be best to rely on 19th century technology - they knew how to do it.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[dik]

The university of sheffield in UK has a program titled 'Ring' that can be used for analysis of stone arches. They have done a fair amount of research on restoring these.

Dik

 

[structuralaggie]

It sounds like it might be easier to use the stone as a form (supported by temporary framing) and use concrete to support the ceiling. Design a slab to support the masonry and use some type of mechanical ties in the masonry to assure bonding.

 

[JKW05]

I especially agree with structuralaggie if you are in a seismic region.