For centuries, vaults and arches have been essential elements of architecture, adding strength and beauty to buildings. Because of its strength and adaptability, concrete has gained popularity as a material for these components in modern construction. Concreting provides a dependable solution whether you’re constructing a functional vault in a commercial space or a decorative archway in a garden.
It is necessary to have a solid understanding of both the material and the structural design when working with concrete to create arches and vaults. To guarantee that the final product is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing, the process entails meticulous planning and exact execution. To get the desired outcome, each step—from formwork to curing—must be handled carefully.
The main factors and methods for concreting arches and vaults will be discussed in this article. Everything from choosing the ideal concrete mix to forming and supporting the forms will be covered. Whether you’re an experienced builder or a do-it-yourselfer, these tips will give you the confidence you need to take on your next project.
Stage | Description |
Planning | Design the arch or vault, considering load, shape, and dimensions. |
Formwork | Build a strong formwork to shape and support the concrete. |
Reinforcement | Install rebar or mesh to strengthen the structure. |
Mixing Concrete | Prepare a suitable concrete mix, ensuring the right consistency. |
Pouring | Pour the concrete into the formwork, filling evenly and avoiding gaps. |
Finishing | Smooth the surface and remove any air bubbles. |
Curing | Allow the concrete to set and cure properly, keeping it moist. |
A specialized process called concreting arches and vaults combines the strength of concrete with the grace of curved architectural elements. In order to preserve the structural integrity and visual appeal of these distinctive forms, this technique requires meticulous planning and execution. All the steps are essential to getting the desired outcome, from making the right formwork to choosing the right concrete mix. Professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike can create stunning, long-lasting designs by knowing the fundamentals of concreting arches and vaults, whether for bridges, buildings, or decorative structures.
- Types of vaults and arches
- General rules for concreting arches
- Methods of erecting arches
- Using permanent formwork made of cellular concrete
- With permanent formwork made of thermal blocks
- General rules for concreting arches and domes
- Video on the topic
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Types of vaults and arches
The following are the primary vault shapes that are most frequently utilized in construction:
- Cylindrical. This is the simplest type of structure, which rests on parallel walls, pillars or other elements. The base may contain additional vaulted parts, which are called formwork.
- Closed. In such vaults there are parts of cylindrical structures (trays and so-called cheeks). They rest on the walls along the entire perimeter. Such structures can cover simple rectangular or more complex polygonal rooms. If in a closed vault the top is cut off by a horizontal plane, then this type is called mirror.
- Barrel (also called a double-curvature vault). Usually it is a dome, but there can be other shapes that depend on the formwork shape.
There are three primary types of arches: flat, pointed, and round. Every variety has numerous subtypes. Pointed arches, on the other hand, can be triangular, stepped, equilateral, and other shapes. Semicircular, segmental, horseshoe-shaped, elliptical, elevated, and so on are examples of round arches. The concreting technique will vary depending on the kind of structure, but there are a few general guidelines that apply to these kinds of structures’ components.
General rules for concreting arches
It is helpful to review TC 04.07.07, which includes common technical maps and other pertinent information, when working on arches and vaults. Reducing concrete shrinkage is one of the general guidelines for arches and vaults in order to keep the material from slipping during vibration compaction. Low-mobility concretes with a 1-3 cm cone settlement are utilized for this. Up to 30 mm of coarse grain must be present in the filler.
It is necessary to adhere to the following guidelines when working on arches:
- Two-hinged shallow arches with a span of up to 20 m must be concreted on both sides. If the presence of a 3rd hinge is assumed, then concreting of 2 semi-arches is carried out simultaneously, moving from the supports to the hinge located in the middle.
- If the project provides for a span of more than 20 m, then concreting must be carried out in sections. When constructing a two-hinged arch, the number of sections is odd, and for a three-hinged arch, 3 sections are provided. Dividing strips up to 1.2 m are made between them. Each section is filled with the mixture continuously. The part adjacent to the supports is concreted first, after which the locking section is poured. This helps prevent the formwork from bulging. Next, concrete is poured into the row zones (evenly). You can return to the dividing strips after 6-8 days, when the concrete has settled sufficiently.
- If the arch is large, then support sections are provided, which must be concreted in four-sided formwork. This prevents the mixture from slipping during vibration compaction. It is better to feed the mixture in buckets, performing top loading. After this, you can ram it using an internal vibrator. If the structure is heavily reinforced, then preference should be given to a combined method (using internal and hanging vibrators).
These are the principal details, but there are other ways to install these kinds of structures as well.
Methods of erecting arches
Almost any material can be used to create an arch, including concrete, plasterboard, brick, stone, and wood. In the latter instance, there are various choices.
Using permanent formwork made of cellular concrete
The easiest method for building lintels and other arched structures is this one. In this instance, U-shaped components made of cellular concrete are utilized in place of the customary removable formwork. After inserting reinforcement into the space created by the U axes, concrete is poured. However, since you will need to purchase pre-made components in order to create a smooth and even line, this is an expensive pleasure. Generally, this technique is applied when a 2 m opening needs to be closed. If it is smaller, it will be harder to form into a semicircle and there will be more leftover scraps.
With permanent formwork made of thermal blocks
For those with little experience, this approach is easy to use. Almost any type of building material can be used to create an arched structure like this one. Polystyrene or porcelain blocks are the least expensive options. They first create the core, a reinforced jumper, in preparation for installation above the arch. The benefit is that the method is less expensive because there is significantly less waste installation.
The following is the order of work:
- In the opening where the arch of the arch begins (at an altitude of about 1.5 m from the floor), thermal blocks are laid and fixed with support.
- Over the arch is mounted elements of polystyrene foam. They will play the role of non -removable formwork.
- Reinforcement is installed in the formwork.
- In the side parts of the polystyrene formwork foam, holes are made through which inserts from steel sheets are inserted. They are necessary to prevent concrete from entering the void of thermal blocks located below the arch.
- Concrete is poured.
- After 2 weeks, you can remove the supports for the arched structure and remove the blocks located below the arch vault.
Additionally, prefabricated concrete arches composed of cellular blocks are available. This is another easy way to build an arched structure by yourself. However, in this instance, the arch is merely an imitation and decorative element rather than having a unique "semantic" meaning. In this case, the weight is supported by typical rectangular lintels, to which cellular concrete blocks are easily fastened to create the required shape.
After erecting an arch by any method, finishing will also be required. It is done using plaster and putty. The first material is necessary to seal large expansions and other defects in the surface. With the help of putty, a smoother arc is created. To simplify the work, you can buy special templates.
General rules for concreting arches and domes
The following considerations need to be made when installing arches:
- If you plan to build a long vault, then it must be divided into sections and shrinkage joints must be created. With a span of up to 15 m and a vault thickness of up to 0.2 m, the plots must be concreted continuously, the mixture must be laid in strips simultaneously on both sides.
Useful! Shrinkage joints are from 300 to 500 mm. Their concreting is carried out only 5-7 days after concreting. To fill them, a low-mobility mixture is required, which is preliminarily well vibrated.
- When working with vaults over 15 m, each plot is additionally divided into an odd number of zones that run parallel to the generatrix. The width of each strip must correspond to the thickness of the vault.
- It is recommended to supply concrete in buckets and unload them in portions as the concreting proceeds. If the thickness of the vault is less than 0.35 m, then after pouring the concrete, the mixture is compacted using vibrating beams or vibrators. When working on more massive vaults, it is better to use internal vibrators.
- If the arch is quite steep, then the areas near the supports also need to be concreted using double-sided formwork. In this case, the upper part of the formwork structure is installed as the concrete is poured in separate panels.
In the event that the dome is concreted, then:
- It is better to concretize small structures continuously, and lay the mixture horizontally in a circular motion. Working seams are not required.
- When installing large domes, they are divided into separate sections called petals. It is necessary to create dividing strips between them.
- Concreting is carried out in double-sided formwork. Its outer panels can be installed as concreting proceeds.
- Vibration compaction is used to compact a low-mobility mixture. If the cone settlement is approximately 4-6 cm, then it is better to give preference to vacuuming.
Concrete arches and vaults can give a structure distinctive architectural features by fusing strength and beauty. To guarantee that the shapes are both beautiful and useful, the process requires meticulous planning and execution. Every stage is vital to getting the desired outcome, from assembling the proper formwork to selecting the right concrete mix.
Even though building these components can be difficult, the end product is frequently worthwhile. Because of its versatility, concrete can be used to create a wide range of designs, from sleek, modern vaults to classic Roman arches. Because concrete is so resilient, it can withstand the effects of time and the environment, allowing these structures to endure for many years.
Comprehending the fundamentals of concreting arches and vaulted ceilings is essential, regardless of whether you intend to add one to your house or a commercial space. You can design beautiful architectural features that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also very durable with the correct information and resources. Recall that concrete is a great material for architectural design because of its strength and flexibility.