CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

UNIT III ARCHES

PART - A (2 marks)

1. Define – Arch
An arch is defined as a curved girder, having convexity upwards and supported at its ends.
The supports must effectively arrest displacements in the vertical and horizontal directions. Only
then there will be arch action.

2. State eddy’s theorem.

Eddy’s theorem states that “ The bending moment at any section of an arch is
proportional to the vertical intercept between the linear arch (or theoretical arch) and the centre
line of the actual arch.”

3. What are the types of arches based on the number of hinges?

 Two hinged arch
 Three hinged arch
 Fixed arch
 Four hinged
 One hinged
 Support reactions

4. What is meant by degree of static indeterminacy of a structure?

If the conditions of statics i.e., ∑H=0, ∑V=0 and ∑M=0 alone are not sufficient to find either
external reactions or internal forces in a structure, the structure is called a statically
indeterminate structure.

5. What is the difference between circular arch and parabolic arch?

S.No Circular arch Parabolic arch

1 The calculation part is difficult in this The calculation part is easier in this
circular type of arches. parabolic type of arches.
2 The equation to find the height ‘y’ under The equation to find the height ‘y’ under
the section is the section is
y=
4 yC
(L – 2x) R2 = x2 + (R – yC + y)2
Here R can be determined by
L2 L
2
(2RC - yC) yC =
2

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

6. State the equation for temperature effect in arches.

Horizontal thrust, H l=TEI

lo y2
dx
7. Find the maximum bending moment at a section 30 m from the left end of the three
hinged stiffening girder of span 100 m when a UDL of 10 kN/m, 5 m length crosses the
girder.

1
Maximum BM = 10 x [(18.375 x 3.75) + ( x 3.75 x 2.625) + (20.625 x 1.25) +
2
1
( x 1.25 x 0.375)]
2
= 10 x 99.84
= 998.4 kNm
8. Which theorem is utilized in solving the two hinged arch? State the theorem.
 Eddy’s theorem is utilized in solving the two hinged arch.
 Eddy’s theorem states that “The bending moment at any section of an arch is proportional
to the vertical intercept between the linear arch (or theoretical arch) and the centre line of
the actual arch”.

9. What is the degree of static indeterminacy of the fixed arch?

The degree of static indeterminacy of the fixed arch is three.

10. What are the types of arch as per structure configuration?

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

 Curved arch
 Parabolic arch
 Elliptical arch
 Polygonal arch

11. What are three hinged arch and two hinged arch?

Sl.No. Two hinged arches Three hinged arches

1 Statically indeterminate to first Statically determinate
degree
2 Might develop temperature stresses Increase in temperature causes increase in
central rise. No stresses.
3 Structurally more efficient Easy to analyse. But in construction, the
central hinge may involve additional
expenditure.
4 Will develop stresses due to sinking Since this is determinate, no stresses due to
of supports support sinking.

12. State the transfer of load to the arches.

We have a load W acting at a point C on an arch. If there were straight members CA and CB,
the load W would transfer directly to the supports A and B in the form of thrusts along the
notational members CA and CB.
13. What are the applications of two hinged arches?
 Two hinged arches are more practical. They are statically indeterminate structures.
 We have to invoke Castiglione’s II theorem to sort out the support reactions. This is
applicable to all shapes of arches

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

14. Differentiate between the cable and arch.

SI.No Arch Cable

1
An arch is essentially a compression A cable can take only tension.
member which can also take bending
moments and shears.
2
Bending moments and shears will be The girder will take the bending
absent if the arch is parabolic moment and shears in the bridge and
and the loading uniformly distributed. the cable, only tension.

15. What is the expression for the horizontal thrust when the two hinged arch is subjected to
uniformly distributed load throughout the span.
ydx

Horizontal thrust, H
l
=
Where µ = bending moment at the section for loading portion and unloading portion. y = height
in the arch where the section is acting.
16. Define – Horizontal thrust
The horizontal force is calculated by equating the bending moment at the central hinge to zero is
called as Horizontal thrust. i.e., ∑M = 0.
MX = µX – Hy

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

17. What is the formula for calculate the change in rise in three hinged arch if there is a rise in
temperature?
Change in rise = l2 + 4r2 α T 4r
Where
l = span length of the arch
r = central rise of the arch
α = coefficient of thermal expansion
T = change in temperature

18. In a parabolic arch with two hinges how will you calculate the slope of the arch at any
point.
Slope of parabolic arch = θ = tan-1 4r (l – 2x) l2
where
θ = Slope at any point x (or) inclination of tangent at x.
l = span length of the arch r = central rise of the arch

19. How will you calculate the horizontal thrust in a two hinged parabolic arch if there is a
rise in temperature.
Horizontal thrust = l α TEI l y2dx 0
Where
l = span length of the arch
y = rise of the arch at any point x
α = coefficient of thermal expansion
T = change in temperature
E = Young’s Modulus of the material of the arch
I = Moment of inertia

20. What is the degree of static indeterminacy of a three hinged parabolic arch?
For a three hinged parabolic arch, the degree of static indeterminancy is zero. It
is statically determinate.

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

UNIT IV CABLE AND SUSPENSION BRIDGES

PART - A (2 marks)
1. What are cable structures?
Long span structures subjected to tension and uses suspension cables for supports. Examples of
cable structures are suspension bridges, cable stayed roof.
Suspension bridge – cable structure

2. What is the true shape of cable structures?

Cable structures especially the cable of a suspension bridge is in the form of a catenary. Catenary
is the shape assumed by a string / cable freely suspended between two points.

3. What is the nature of force in the cables?

Cables have only tension and no compression or bending.

4. What is a catenary?
Catenary is the shape taken up by a cable or rope freely suspended between two supports and
under its own self weight.

5. Mention the different types of cable structures.

Cable structures are mainly of two types:
(i) Cable over a guide pulley
(ii) Cable over a saddle

6. Write the features of cable over a guide pulley.

Cable over a guide pulley has the following properties:
Tension in the suspension cable = Tension in the anchor cable
The supporting tower will be subjected to vertical pressure and bending due to net horizontal
cable tension.

7. Write the features of cable over saddle.

Cable over saddle has the following properties:
Horizontal component of tension in the suspension cable = Horizontal component of tension in
the anchor cable
The supporting tower will be subjected to only vertical pressure due to cable tension.

8. What are the main functions of stiffening girders in suspension bridges?

Stiffening girders have the following functions.
(i) They help in keeping the cables in shape
(ii) They resist part of shear force and bending moment due to live loads.

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

9. Distinguish between plane truss and space truss.

a. Plane truss:
(i) All members lie in one plane
(ii) All joints are assumed to be hinged.
b. Space truss:
(i) This is a three dimensional truss
(ii) All joints are assumed to be ball and socketed.

10. Define − Tension Coefficient

The tension coefficient for a member of a truss is defined as the pull or tension in the member
divided by its length, i. e. the force in the member per unit length.

11. Give some examples of beams curved in plan.

Curved beams are found in the following structures.
(i) Beams in a bridge negotiating a curve
(ii) Ring beams supporting a water tank
(iii) Beams supporting corner lintels
(iv) Beams in ramps

12. What are the forces developed in beams curved in plan?

Beams curved in plan will have the following forces developed in them:
(i) Bending Moment
(ii) Shear forces
(iii) Torsional moments

13. What are the significant features of circular beams on equally spaced supports?
Significant features of circular beams are:
(i) Slope on either side of any support will be zero.
(ii) Torsional moment on every support will be zero

14. Give the expression for calculating equivalent UDL on a girder.

Equivalent UDL on a girder is given by:
Total load on girder
W e=
Span of girder

15. Give the range of central dip of a cable.

The central dip of a cable ranges from 1/10 to 1/12 of the span.

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CE8602 – STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II VIII Semester CIVIL

16. Give the expression for determining the tension T in the cable.
The tension developed in the cable is given by

17. Give the types of significant cable structures

a. Linear structures:
(i) Suspension bridges
(ii) Cable-stayed beams or trusses
(iii) Cable trusses
(iv) Straight tensioned cables
b. Three-dimensional structures:
(i) 3D cable trusses
(ii) Tensegrity structures
(iii) Tensairity structures

18. What are cables made of?

(i) Cables can be of mild steel, high strength steel, stainless steel, or polyester fibers. Structural
cables are made of a series of small strands twisted or bound together to form a much larger
cable. Steel cables are either spiral strand, where circular rods are twisted together or locked
coil strand, where individual interlocking steel strands form the cable (often with a spiral
strand core).
(ii) Spiral strand is slightly weaker than locked coil strand. Steel spiral strand cables have a
Young's modulus, E of 150 ± 10 kN/mm² and come in sizes from 3 to 90 mm diameter.
Spiral strand suffers from construction stretch, where the strands compact when the cable is
loaded.

19. The load transfer mechanism in suspension cables are through axial through force,
bending moment and shear force. State true or false with an explanation.
False, as the cable is flexible throughout it cannot resist any moment and can adopt any shape
under the loads,that is why the BM at every point of the suspension cable is zero.

20. What are curved beams?

The common utility of beams curved in plan is to support walls of circular water tanks, silos &
circular balcony slabs. In transferring loads these beam develop not only bending moment and
shear but also torsion.

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