PIERS AND VAULTS.

365
rs -
- - - - -
=2
The sum of the vertical forces of the upper part or
MKxAli -
- - .
^m
Tlie sum of the forces of the lawer ]'art IT x AB = t
'J'he jiart /K of tlie liorizontal IKL
- -
=-c
TB equal to iialf the thickness of tlie arch
-
=e
The arm of the le\er KH
. - .
=f > ^
That of TE
- - - - .
=J--
Thus the first eciuation iiccomos pa + ]id= -
'
+ m {c x .r) + n (,r
),
Or pa xpd= ^^^ + nix + nic + iix ne.
Transfa-iing the unknown quantities to the second side of the equation, wesliaJI
have -^^ + mx + vx + ==pa +pd + ne mc.
Multiply all the terms by 2, and divide hy a, in order to get rid of x'^, and we
have x^
+
nm+7i)x
_2u
+
lpd+^nc-2mc
a
^
a
Making m + n =h, and adding to each member -^ for the purpose of extractii:"
the root of the first member,
We have x- + h -, =
2p +
'
+
-r,-
Extracting the root, x +
*
= */
2n +
^P'i+'i"e-2mc^ljl
"
n ^_ a a'
And lastly, x =
v^2
+
^^"^+""'-'^'"-^^^-!i -
-*.
1391. This last equation is a formula for finding the thickness of all sorts of arches
whose voussoirs are of ecjual depth, which we will now ap])ly to
fig.
573. 'J'iie model was
3G inches and 3 lines in span. The arch consisted of two concentric circles, and it was
divided into four equal i)arts, a vertical joint being in the middle, tlie two others beiu"
inclined at angles of 45 degrees. The piers whereon it was ])laced were 40 inches and 4 lines
high, and on avery exact measurement the values were as follow :

PE (a in the formula) was - - - . .

40'333
EH = TI = KL=KV ((/in the formula) - . .
13-87(5
jNIL X A15
{p
in the formula) representing the thrust or
8
'127 x 3 24-381
2p
-...-..
. 48-762
2;)f =48-762 X 13-876 - - . . .
676-621
2MK X AB
V
KH represented by 2??ic (=5-749 X 3 X 4-249) - 73-282
2w6-, which is Tr x AB x AB
(
= 13-876 x 3 x 3)
- .
1 24-824
& =H(4-n = (MK + rr)x AB
(
= 19-625 x3) - - .
58-875
a = EP, the height of the pier being 40-333,
^
will be
|PI|
or 1 -459
^ 2-128
Substituting these values in the formula x z=\/
'2i> +
'

"^
'^^ \-'^
,
'^ '
a a- a
\ sV Ao TO ,
fi7G6-'l
+
l;?4S9473-282
, ,oo ^ Arc
we have T = V/ 48-/62
H
^n"'i!
+2-1281-459;
wliicli gives a.- =5-8, or 5 inches 9^ lines for the thickness of the piers to resist the thrust of
the arch, supposing it to be perfectly executed. But, from tl:e imi)erfection of the execution
of the model, it was found that the piers required for resisting the thrust a thickness of
6 inches and 3 lines.
1395. When tlie piers of the model were made 7', inches thick the arch on its central
joint was foimd cajiable of supporting a weight of three pounds, being equal to an ad-
dition of 8 superficial inches beyond that of the upper parts of tlie arcli which are the
cause of the thrust, and this makes the value of 2;j in the formula 56-762 instead of 48-762,
and changes the equation to a- =\/56-7G2 +
'
^^'
''"^"'"{u^jjf'"^
" +
2-4301 SS; from
which we should obtain t = 7-366 inches, or 7 inches
3^
lines, exhibiting a singular agree-
ment between theory and practice. Rondelet gives another method of investigating tiie
preceding problem, of wliich we f^o not think it necessary to say more than that it
agrees with that just exhibited so singularly that the result is the same. It is dependent
on the i)laces of the centres of gravity, and therefore not so readily applicable in practice as
that which has been just given.
Second Experiment.
1396. Fig. 561., in a preceding jiage, isthe model of an arch in freestone, which has been
before considered. It is divided into nine equal voussoirs, whose depth to the extr.ulos is
21 lines, and whose interior diameter is 9 inches.