And in long bridges, beam won't be good enough because of the larger bending stress while arches can be better where the loads are transferred as compressive stresses in the abutments and we know that these structural elements are good at compressive stresses. read more
A modern evolution of the arch bridge is the long-span through arch bridge. This has been made possible by the use of light materials that are strong in tension such as steel and prestressed concrete. read more
After more than 2,000 years of architectural use, the arch continues to feature prominently in bridge designs and with good reason: Its semicircular structure elegantly distributes compression through its entire form and diverts weight onto its two abutments, the components of the bridge that directly take on pressure. read more