Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality

The construction industries are faced with multiple decisions that borders around functionality and cost. Such decision is made when considering the geometry of arches. In this work, hinged arch structures were examined under uniformly distributed static loads, and an attempt to find the best arch...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu, Victor Odinaka Okonkwo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UJ Press 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/JCPMI/article/view/2574
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841555138760671232
author Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu
Victor Odinaka Okonkwo
author_facet Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu
Victor Odinaka Okonkwo
author_sort Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu
collection DOAJ
description The construction industries are faced with multiple decisions that borders around functionality and cost. Such decision is made when considering the geometry of arches. In this work, hinged arch structures were examined under uniformly distributed static loads, and an attempt to find the best arch height for any given arch span was made. An optimum orientation of the elements of two-hinged parabolic arch structures was selected based on the manufacturing cost, which was adjudged by the volume of concrete consumed. Stress – strain analysis was used to compute for the volume of the arch, while the usefulness or benefit of the arch was taken as the ratio of the frames’ cross sectional area to their perimeter. Graphs of the cost-benefit ratio against arch height f were plotted for different values of arch span and the values of arch height corresponding to minima cost/benefit were obtained. These values were found to be independent of the ratio of the load to the product of arch thickness and grade of arch material (w/σb). A table showing the values of economic arch height for different values of arch span was presented and a reliable model (polynomial equation) was developed.
format Article
id doaj-art-0bef9292a8874087a4494e07fc12ec00
institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7852
2959-9652
language English
publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher UJ Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation
spelling doaj-art-0bef9292a8874087a4494e07fc12ec002025-01-08T06:08:22ZengUJ PressJournal of Construction Project Management and Innovation2223-78522959-96522024-04-0114110.36615/1spds119Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9267-0057Victor Odinaka Okonkwo1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-6766Nnamdi Azikiwe University AwkaNnamdi Azikiwe University Awka The construction industries are faced with multiple decisions that borders around functionality and cost. Such decision is made when considering the geometry of arches. In this work, hinged arch structures were examined under uniformly distributed static loads, and an attempt to find the best arch height for any given arch span was made. An optimum orientation of the elements of two-hinged parabolic arch structures was selected based on the manufacturing cost, which was adjudged by the volume of concrete consumed. Stress – strain analysis was used to compute for the volume of the arch, while the usefulness or benefit of the arch was taken as the ratio of the frames’ cross sectional area to their perimeter. Graphs of the cost-benefit ratio against arch height f were plotted for different values of arch span and the values of arch height corresponding to minima cost/benefit were obtained. These values were found to be independent of the ratio of the load to the product of arch thickness and grade of arch material (w/σb). A table showing the values of economic arch height for different values of arch span was presented and a reliable model (polynomial equation) was developed. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/JCPMI/article/view/2574Parabolic archEngineering econonmicsArch costEconomic arch heightCost-benefit ratio
spellingShingle Victor Mmerichukwu Mbachu
Victor Odinaka Okonkwo
Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation
Parabolic arch
Engineering econonmics
Arch cost
Economic arch height
Cost-benefit ratio
title Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
title_full Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
title_fullStr Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
title_full_unstemmed Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
title_short Determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads: a blend of cost and functionality
title_sort determination of optimum shape of pinned parabolic arch structures under uniformly distributed loads a blend of cost and functionality
topic Parabolic arch
Engineering econonmics
Arch cost
Economic arch height
Cost-benefit ratio
url https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/JCPMI/article/view/2574
work_keys_str_mv AT victormmerichukwumbachu determinationofoptimumshapeofpinnedparabolicarchstructuresunderuniformlydistributedloadsablendofcostandfunctionality
AT victorodinakaokonkwo determinationofoptimumshapeofpinnedparabolicarchstructuresunderuniformlydistributedloadsablendofcostandfunctionality