Brick arch. How to make a brick arch with your own hands? Brickwork of arches and vaults

To decorate the facade of the house, decorative architectural elements are often used, giving it a special beauty and originality. Among these elements, window arches can be noted. They are used quite often both in private houses and in buildings of various institutions.

How to make such an arch? Is it difficult? How long will the work take to complete? All this and more will be discussed below.

Types of brick arches

To begin with, let's consider what an arch is and what types it comes in. An arch is a curly lintel that can be installed both above door and window openings. Here the window arch will be considered.

There are three types of arches:

wedge arch, in which the bricks above the rectangular window are laid out in a wedge, while the bricks fix themselves, clinging to each other;
the arch arch, which is also called truncated or incomplete, is an arc whose height is less than the width, that is, the radius;
an ordinary arch (full) is half a circle, that is, the height is equal to the radius.

Each of these arches has its pros and cons. Below will be described the technology for creating a beam arch, which is perfect for almost all facades.

How to make a brick arch with your own hands?

The technology for creating an arch includes several stages:

template making;
template installation;
a set of brick arches;
compression of the arch;
dismantling the template;
clean finish.

Making an arch template

The first step is to make a template. The template itself is made from a chipboard sheet using fiberboard and wooden blocks. The quality of the template, the correspondence of its shapes and sizes to the specified parameters determine the quality of the arch itself, so its manufacture must be approached as seriously as possible.

First you need to determine the dimensions of the template. To do this, measure the width of the opening (take for example a window with a width of 1500 mm). The width of the template is taken 5 mm less - 1495 mm. This will help to dismantle the template later on without any problems. final stages even if it swells with moisture. The height of the template should correspond to the selected height of the arch, for example, let's take 168 mm. It is desirable that a whole front brick be laid on top of the arch, therefore the height is selected based on the number of bricks. The height of one row is approximately 72 mm (the height of the brick and the seam), and the number of rows is selected 4. Thus, the height of the arch is: 72 * 4-120 = 168 mm, where 120 mm is the height of the shaped brick laid on the edge.

The height can be chosen both higher and lower, but it must be borne in mind that an arch that is too low with a large width can sag under the load from the brickwork.
The thickness of the template depends on the thickness of the wall. It should be such that you do not have to make another additional template, because there should be two arches: front and back. We accept a thickness of 200 mm, which is half the thickness of the cinder block. A larger template will be heavier, which is also undesirable.

So, the template parameters are as follows: width - 1495 mm, height - 168 mm, thickness - 200 mm. Now you can start making it. The center of the arch, the upper and lower points are marked on the chipboard sheet. To get a truncated semicircle, the upper and lower points are connected by an arc. To do this, you can use a wire or thread with a pencil tied to it on one side, and a metal peg on the other. This is a kind of compass, only its radius is much larger than that of an ordinary one.

For more convenient installation of the template, you need to step back from the extreme lower points of the arc by about 100 mm. This is necessary so that the arch has supports for attaching the bars.
A circle is cut out along the resulting contour. To do this, you can use an electric jigsaw.

The template consists of two such circles, so they need to be cut in duplicate. In this case, it is easier to first cut out the first one, and then circle it by attaching it to chipboard sheet, and cut the second one along the resulting contour.

In order for the template to become voluminous, between two circles are fixed wooden blocks. After that, the design of the template is fastened with screws or nails.
A strip of fiberboard is fastened to the upper arched part of the template with nails (20-25 mm). It makes the template smoother, gives it the correct shape, and also holds the bricks laid on top.

Next, the template is installed in the window opening. Under it, supports made of boards 20 mm thick are installed, and between the supports - a spacer for fixing them. The template is installed on the boards at the same level as the front shaped brick, its height should match the frame of the window.

When installing a beam arch, you need to slightly cut the upper brick with a grinder, which will be installed on the template, and the window frame. In this case, the arch will be set lower, and the brick will move towards the inner corner.

The front arch usually protrudes above the wall surface, and this protrusion should be minimal (less than 60 mm). A large protrusion can lead to soaking of the bricks of the arch and their gradual destruction. But it is advisable to cover even minor protrusions with some kind of material, for example, tiles or a sheet of metal. On the other hand, the larger the ledge, the more impressive and voluminous the arch looks, so it's up to you to decide what to give preference to: beauty or practicality.

When laying the front brick, you need to pay attention to the fact that it has two front sides, and in cases where the brick strongly protrudes beyond the plane of the wall, not only the front sides are visible, but also the “wrong sides”, the surface of which is uneven and rough, does not look very attractive.

Before you start laying out the arch, you need to install fines on both sides, which will make it easier and faster to clamp the arch.

You need to start making the arch from the “heels”, on which it relies. After installing them, the height of one row of masonry is measured with a tape measure and the number of rows around the arch is calculated. In the example described, a brick with a seam occupies 70.5 cm in height, and the number of rows is ten. Next, risks are applied to the template, marking the positions of the rows.

The arch is typed immediately from two sides from the bottom up. The last brick, which is called the "lock" brick, is installed in the center of the arch at its top and fixes the rest of the bricks. There can be two such bricks if their total number is even. Key bricks need to be hammered tightly into the masonry so that they not only hold themselves, but also hold the entire arched structure.

When the arch is set, it must be clamped with a brick, and it is advisable to do this on the same day, without postponing it for later, otherwise it may burst. Since brick lines were previously installed, clamping the arch will not be difficult.

After clamping the arch, you can immediately remove the template and clean the surface. If the weather is good and the air temperature is high, the mortar will quickly set on the same day, which will make it possible to remove the template without damaging the masonry. If it is left for a day or two, it will be much more difficult to clean the seams from the solution.

The seams during the masonry process do not always turn out to be perfectly even and clean, so their cleaning is a mandatory procedure. The solution may be squeezed out of the joints, falling on the front surface of the masonry, or not completely filling them. In the first case, the seams are cleaned and wiped with a dry cloth. In the second - the solution is additionally applied to the seams in the direction from the bottom up.

The next day, the wall with the arch needs to be raised several rows of bricks.

backfill arch

Now you can proceed to the backfill arch. For its manufacture, the same wooden template is used, but with some modifications. Because the arched windows have a quarter of 5 cm on the sides, then the arch, and accordingly the template, must have it, so the template must be grown by this amount. For this on fiberboard sheet wooden blocks are nailed with a section of 45x45 mm and a length of 200 mm, the distance between them is about 70 mm.

Since the sheet is quite flexible, the resulting tape is easily bent and attached to the upper arched part of the template.

Further, the manufacturing technology of the filling arch repeats the manufacturing technology of the front arch. First, "heels" are installed, bricks are laid out from them to the top of the arch. For this, second-hand backing single bricks mounted on the edge are usually used.

Before starting work, it is advisable to immediately prepare everything necessary materials and tools, as well as make a template, cut wooden blocks, props and spacers. In total, the entire process of making the arch takes 8.5-9 hours, so it’s better to start work in the morning and do everything in one day.

Why can an arch burst?

Consider the reasons why the arch may burst:

too small radius (height) of the arch with a large width. This design perceives significant loads that are not evenly distributed. The result may be the appearance of cracks, but the arch itself will not collapse;
corners or metal bases are used as a template. They are used to further strengthen the structure, but sometimes this leads to the opposite result. Why? When using a wooden template, after removing it, the brickwork shrinks and compacts. If you use a metal base, it does not allow the masonry to sag, since it is not removed and interferes with uniform natural shrinkage. In this case, in general, the structure will turn out to be quite strong, although with cracks;
the template was in the arch for quite a long time after its manufacture. For example, he was not taken immediately, but left for the night. During this time, the wood absorbed moisture, swelled, and the arched masonry could not withstand the stress. True, this happens infrequently, but anyway, in cases where you cannot immediately remove the template, it is better to cover the arch with polyethylene;
subsidence of the foundation. The appearance of cracks around window openings- one of the signs of an incorrectly chosen or built foundation, and cracks in the arch are no exception. In this case, you need to strengthen the foundation.

That's all for the construction of a brick arch above the window. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this, and the process itself takes no more than 9 hours, so it is quite possible to manage in one day. The main thing is to prepare everything you need in advance and strictly follow the technology. This is the key to a quality result.

In order to decorate the facade of the house, decorative architectural elements are often used, giving it a special beauty and originality. Among these elements, window arches can be noted. They are often used both in private homes and in buildings of various institutions.

How to make an arch? Is it difficult? How long will it take to complete the work? All this and more will be discussed further.

To begin with, consider what an arch is and what types it comes in. An arch is a curly arc that can be installed both above door and window openings. Next, the window arch will be considered.

Species window arches three are distinguished:

wedge arch, in which the bricks above the rectangular window are laid out in a wedge, while the bricks fix themselves, clinging to each other;
an ordinary arch (full) represents half a circle, that is, the height is equal to the radius.
the arch arch, which is also called truncated or incomplete, is an arc whose shape is less than the width, that is, the radius;

Each of these arches has its pros and cons. Below will be described the technique for creating a beam arch, which is perfect for almost all facades.

How to make a brick arch with your own hands?

The technology for creating an arch contains several stages:

template making;
template installation;
a set of brick arches;
arch compression;
dismantling the template;
clean finish.

Making an arch template

The root stage is the manufacture of the template. The template itself is made from a chipboard sheet using fiberboard and wooden blocks. The quality of the template, the correspondence of its shapes and sizes to the given parameters determine the proportions of the arch itself, so its manufacture should be approached as lightly as possible.

First you need to determine the dimensions of the template. For this, the width of the opening is measured (take for example a window with a width of 1500 mm). The width of the template is taken 5 mm less - 1495 mm. This will help in the future to dismantle the template without problems in the last stages, even when it swells from moisture. The height of the template should correspond to the selected height of the arch, for example, let's take 168 mm. It is desirable that a full face brick be laid on top of the arch, therefore the height is selected based on the number of bricks. The height of one row is approximately 72 mm (the height of the brick and the seam), and part of the rows is selected 4. Thus, the height of the arch is: 72 * 4-120 \u003d 168 mm, even 120 mm - the height of the shaped brick laid on the edge.

The height can be chosen both higher and lower, but it must be borne in mind that an arch that is too low with a large width can sag under the load from the brickwork.
The thickness of the template depends on the thickness of the wall. The arch should be such that it is not necessary to make a second template, because there should be two arches: front and back. We accept a thickness of 200 mm, which is half the thickness of the cinder block. A larger template will be heavier, which is also undesirable.

So, the parameters of the template are as follows: width - 1495 mm, elevation - 168 mm, thickness - 200 mm. Now you can start making it. Get a sheet of chipboard marks the center of the arch, the upper and lower points. So to get a truncated semicircle, the upper and lower points are connected between the signboard with an arc. To do this, you can use a wire or thread with a pencil tied to it on one side, and with reverse side- a metal peg. This is a kind of compass, only its radius is incomparably larger than that of an ordinary one.

For more convenient installation of the template, you need to step back from the extreme lower points of the arc by about 100 mm. This is necessary so that the arch has supports for attaching the bars.
A circle is cut exactly along the resulting contour. To do this, you can use an electric jigsaw.

The standard consists of two such circles, so they need to be glued in duplicate. In this case, it is easier to first cut out the first one, and subsequently circle it by attaching it to a chipboard sheet, and cut the second one along the resulting contour.

In order for the template to become voluminous, wooden blocks are fixed between the two circles. After the design of the template is fastened with screws or nails.
A strip of fiberboard is fastened to the upper arched part of the template with nails (20-25 mm). She makes her smoother, gives him correct form, and also holds bricks laid from above.

Installing an arch template in a window opening

Next, the template is installed in the fenestrated opening. Under it, supports made of boards 20 mm thick are installed, and between the supports - a spacer for fixing them. The template is installed on the boards at the same level as the front shaped brick, its height should match the frame of the window.

When installing a beam arch, you need to slightly cut the top brick, which will be installed on the template, and the window frame with a grinder. In this case, the arch will be set lower, and the brick will move towards the inner corner.

Facial arch arrow

When laying the front brick, you need to pay attention to the fact that it has two front sides, and in cases where the brick strongly protrudes beyond the plane of the wall, not only the front sides, but also the "wrong side" are visible, the surface of which is uneven and rough does not look very attractive.

Construction of a bow arch made of bricks

Before you start laying out the arch, you need to install fines on both sides, which will make it easier and faster to fix the arch.

Clamping an arch with a brick

When the arch is set, it must be clamped with a brick, in addition, it is advisable to do this on the same day, without postponing later, otherwise it may burst. Since brick lines were previously installed, it will not be difficult to cramp the arch.

After clamping the arch, you can immediately remove the template and clean the surface. If the weather is good and the air temperature is high, the mortar will quickly harden on the same day, this will definitely make it possible to remove the template without damaging the masonry. If it is left for a day or two, it will be much more difficult to clean the seams from the solution.

Cleaning the arch from the solution

The next day, the wall with the arch needs to be raised several rows of bricks.

backfill arch

Now you can proceed to the backfill arch. For its manufacture, the same wooden template is used, but with some modifications. Since arched windows have a quarter of 5 cm on the sides, both the arch and, accordingly, the template must have it, so the template must be grown by this amount. To do this, wooden blocks with a section of 45x45 mm and a length of 200 mm are nailed to the fiberboard sheet, the distance between them is about 70 mm.

Since the sheet is flexible enough, the resulting tape is easily bent and attached to the upper arched part of the template.

Next, the manufacturing technology of the backing arch repeats the manufacturing technology of the front arch. Initially, “heels” are installed, bricks are laid out from them to the top of the arch. For this, second-hand backing single bricks mounted on a rib are usually used.

Before starting work, it is advisable to immediately prepare the necessary materials and tools without a break, as well as make a template, cut wooden blocks, supports and spacers. In total, the round process of making an arch takes 8.5-9 hours, so it’s more likely to start work in the morning and do everything in one day.

Due to this, the arch can burst?

Consider the reasons why the arch can break through:

too small radius (height) of the arch with a large width. Such a system perceives significant loads that are not distributed evenly. The result may be the appearance of cracks, but the arch itself will not collapse;
corners, in other words, metal bases, are used as a template. They are used to further strengthen the structure, but sometimes this leads to the opposite result. Why? When using a wooden template, over time it is removed, the brickwork shrinks and compacts. If a metal base is used, it does not allow the masonry to sag, since it is not removed and interferes with uniform natural shrinkage. In this case, in general, the view will turn out to be quite strong, although with cracks;
the template was in the arch will get a long time after its manufacture. For example, he was not taken away in one sitting, but left for the night. During this time, the wood absorbed moisture, swelled, and the arched toe could not withstand the stress. True, this happens infrequently, but any one is equal in cases where it is impossible to immediately remove the template, it is better to serve the arch with polyethylene;
subsidence of the foundation. The appearance of cracks near window openings - Wodan is one of the signs of an incorrectly chosen or built foundation, and cracks on top of the arch are no exception. In this case, you need to strengthen the foundation.

That's all for building a brick arch over a window. Here you can see that there is nothing complicated about it, and the process itself takes no more than 9 hours, so it is quite possible to manage it in one day. The main thing is to prepare everything you need in advance and strictly follow the technology. This is the guarantee of a quality result.

An arch is an architectural element made in the form of a curved bridge over an opening in a wall or a span between two supports. Similar designs are widely used to decorate facades and interiors residential buildings and public buildings.

Do-it-yourself brick arch is not a problem for home master having some skills in performing construction work.

Types of brick arches

An ordinary brick arch is a symmetrical vaulted structure, the strength of which is provided by lateral expansion. Experts distinguish the following types of brick arches:

wedge-shaped - bricks are laid out with a wedge and fixed with a "lock";
bow - bricks are laid in a truncated arc;
full arches - bricks are laid out in a semicircle with a height of half the width of the opening.

First of all, you need to decide on the type of arch that you plan to build and prepare the necessary materials and tools. Each of the described brick arches has its pros and cons, but the scheme and sequence of work on their device is not much different.

The sequence of the brick arch

The technology by which a do-it-yourself brick arch is erected depends on the chosen type and design features of the architectural element. The whole process of building a brick arch can be divided into the following steps:

development and production of a vaulted element template;
template installation;
laying out a brick arch;
compression and fixation of the arched structure;
disassembly and removal of the template;
brickwork finishing.

For the manufacture of a template for the future arch, chipboard sheets and wooden bars. depends on the quality of the template. appearance and the quality of the arched structure, so it is necessary to correctly calculate its dimensions.

The template is made a few centimeters less than the width of the opening along the height of the arch, so that there are no problems with its dismantling after the element is laid out.

The center of the arched structure, its upper and lower points are applied to the chipboard sheet, then they are connected to each other in the form of an arc so that a truncated semicircle is obtained as a result. According to the resulting markup, two circles are cut out, which are connected with the help of bars and self-tapping screws, forming a full-size arch. The template is installed in the opening and fixed in it by means of wooden poles and spacers.

Before laying the arch on both sides of the opening, streaks are installed, allowing you to clamp the arch quickly and easily. A set of brick arches is made from the bottom up simultaneously on both sides. In the center at the top of the arch, a “castle” is installed - a brick that is tightly hammered into the masonry and fixes the entire structure.

After clamping the brick arch, the template is removed and the surface is cleaned. To make the masonry look neat, it is necessary to carefully align the seams and remove excess mortar from the front surface of the brickwork.

Materials used for the construction of brick arches

For the manufacture of arches, a special wedge brick is usually used, since its trapezoidal shape contributes to a better fixation of the arched structure. You can buy wedge bricks at ready-made in stores selling building materials. You can make a wedge brick yourself by trimming up to desired shape ordinary brick blocks.

To fix arched structures, special solutions are often used. For example, for furnace arches, the solution is made of clay with the addition of fireclay sand with inclusions of fine gravel, sifted through a sieve with cells up to 0.8 cm in diameter. In this case, the thickness of the seams should be minimal.

The main mistakes when building arches with your own hands

A do-it-yourself brick arch with the correct calculation and strict observance of the work production technology will become a magnificent decoration for your home and will last a very long time. However, there are a number of reasons that can lead to the destruction of the arched structure:

insufficient height of the arch with a large opening width - with this design, the loads are distributed unevenly, which can lead to the formation of cracks;
the use of metal corners and bases as a template - metal, unlike wood, prevents uniform natural shrinkage of the arched structure, which can cause it to crack;
untimely dismantling of the template - if the wood has time to absorb moisture and swell, this can lead to excessive stress, so the arch should be protected from moisture by covering it with polyethylene;
weak foundation - cracks in the arches often occur when the base subsides, in this case it is necessary to carry out a set of measures to help strengthen the foundation and prevent subsidence of the base of the arched structure.

Arches can be made in a variety of styles and used to decorate various architectural elements. Do-it-yourself brick arch will give your home original look and will create a unique atmosphere.

Video

By the way, a brick arch can be not only in the house, but also in the oven. The following story will tell you how to make such an arch.

Often, the builder is faced with the task of building an arched ceiling, arranging a domed roof or an original “humpbacked” bridge over a pond, which is becoming an increasingly popular small architectural form. At the same time, in most cases, masters do not bother themselves with complex calculations, using two quantities that are known even to a seventh grader. Such values are the width of the span, subsequently covered by the arch, and the height of the rise of the arch, which is calculated by determining the distance between an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the points on which the arch rests and the highest point of the arch. According to experts, these values \u200b\u200bare not enough to equip a reliable arch with high performance. The main role in the design of the arched ceiling is given to the choice of materials from which the arch will be constructed, and the associated calculation of the arch, the correctness of which determines its subsequent operational characteristics. By following these guidelines, you will be able to design a reliable arched ceiling, which will become great solution and not only diversifies the design of the apartment, but also becomes an excellent decoration landscape design garden. Experts in this field will easily produce all necessary calculations, but what if there is no way to use their services, and you have to do all the work yourself? In this case, use our recommendations that will help you cope with the task as efficiently as possible.

Arched systems from a professional point of view

From the point of view of specialist engineers, arched structures are called systems of a broken or curvilinear nature, on the supporting elements of which vertical loads act, leading to inclined reactions directed inside the opening. The horizontal component of such a support reaction is the spacer, which indicates that the arched systems are spacer structures. This is their main difference from beams, which experience only normal mechanical stress. IN modern construction arches are used as the main load-bearing structures of structures for various purposes, whether it is economic, industrial or agricultural buildings, with a span of 12 to 70 m. As for foreign construction, the design of arched spans in this industry is even more developed, which allows you to build arches up to 100 m or more high.

Arch classification: main varieties

According to static circuit , distinguish hingeless , two-hinged And tri-hinged arches ;

Also, the supporting ends of the arch can be connected by a horizontally located rod that perceives a horizontal load and is called puff . The calculation of an arch with a puff is somewhat different from the calculation of a two-hinged arch or a three-hinged arch without a puff.

Each of these types has its own advantages and disadvantages, and therefore, the choice of design is carried out by a design engineer who will calculate a three-hinged arch, taking into account the strength requirements for it, the materials used to construct it, and the architectural tasks that are assigned for one structure or another.

In accordance with the scheme of support, allocate drawstring arches And arches without tightening . If the former perceive the thrust, then the thrust of the latter is transmitted to the supports. Puffs are made from profile steel or fittings. If the operation of the arch will be carried out in aggressive environments that promote metal corrosion, the use of wooden glued puffs is allowed.

The form is distinguished:

Triangular arches, consisting of straight semi-arches. The calculation of a triangular arch is not difficult, and you can do it yourself;

Pentagonal arches;
Segmental arches, the axes of the semi-arches of which are located on a common circle;
Lancet arches, consisting of several semi-arches, the axes of which are located on two circles;

How to calculate a three-hinged arch with a puff: recommendations from experts

If you are planning to install a small arch, the calculation and design will not cause you any particular difficulties, since it is preferable to use sheets for their production. building material huge sizes, such as plywood, drywall or OSB boards. The largest indicators of their length and width are 250 and 120 cm, respectively, which makes it possible to simply draw an arch on a sheet of material and cut out at least two component parts of the supporting beams. In conclusion, such arches are sheathed sheet material, after which we can assume that the arch is ready. Despite the speed and ease of installation of arches by this method, it is also characterized by its drawbacks, among which a large number of the material spent on waste, the decorativeness of the finished arch and the inability of the structure to bear the load.

The arrangement of arched structures becomes much more complicated if the master is faced with the task of mounting an arch over a large gap (up to several meters) or an arch that can withstand the highest loads. Due to the fact that it is difficult to find materials on the construction market, the dimensions of which allow the installation of such an arch, it is designed as a stacked structure consisting of several parts. In this regard, the master faces the task of accurately calculating the arch and determining the dimensions of its parts.

As mentioned earlier, arches are distinguished according to parameters such as shape, size and height, and before implementing a wooden arch calculation project, it is necessary to have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe design and approximate dimensions of the desired arch. Given these parameters, it is easier to decide on the choice of materials for its installation and subsequent calculations.

Amateurs, having heard the phrase "arch calculation" are often frightened, however, the calculations in this case are simple and are based on the use of school formulas from geometry. In addition, in order to facilitate the calculations, it is necessary to draw the contour of the arch on a graph paper on a somewhat reduced scale. After that, an arch template is made in real size, having which you can most effectively carry out further calculations, since you can attach the so-called copy of the arch to the place of its installation and evaluate the correctness of the calculations. To make a template, you can use thick cardboard, plywood or a sheet of fiberboard.

Arched structures occupy a vast niche in architecture, and their use is the broadest topic that cannot be covered in one article. In this material, we will consider the manufacture of an arch in an apartment or a private house, since a traditional rectangular opening, designed in the form of an arch, will become an exclusive detail of the interior of an apartment that distinguishes it from other apartments.

Consider an example of calculating a three-hinged arch:

In most cases, regardless of the experience of the master, he knows three parameters of the arch, including the width of the span covered by the arch, the height of the arch, and the depth (width) of the wall. At the same time, the master is faced with the task of calculating the parameters of the details of the arch, assembling them into a single arched structure and firmly fixing it.

Method number 1 - empirical

Although any calculation of an arch begins with the calculation of the radius of its circumference, the arch does not always represent a circular arc. There are situations when the arch consists of two arcs (this applies to arches made in the Gothic style) or are characterized by asymmetrical outlines. In this case, the calculation of each arc of the arch is performed separately. But, back to the calculation of the circumference of the arch. It is more convenient to produce it on paper, while reducing the size, on a scale, for example, 1: 50. Having prepared paper and compasses, we draw a doorway on the sheet, taking into account the scale and draw an axis of symmetry dividing the opening in half. After that, the axis of the compass must be changed by placing the leg with the needle directly on the axis of symmetry. Next, you need to draw several arcs and, choosing the most optimal one, remove the rest with an eraser.

To better demonstrate this example, let's draw an arc of an arch:

where R is the radius of the circumference of the arch, and L is half the chord of the arch, while the chord size corresponds to the length of the arch opening. As for H, this indicator displays the height of the arch.

Method number 2 - mathematical

To carry out a mathematical calculation of the radius of the circle of the arch, use the Pythagorean theorem, according to which:

R= L2 + (R2 - H2)

R= L2 + (R - H)2

Having expanded the binomial, we transform the expression into the form:

R2 = L2 + R2 - 2HR + H2

Subtract R from both parts and get:

L2 + H2 - 2HR = 0

Let's move the term with R beyond the equal sign:

2RH = L2 + H2

And finally, we get the required R:

R = (L2 + H2)/ 2H

Important! The formula for calculating the radius of the circle of the arch: R = (L2 + H2)/ 2H , where R is the radius of the circle of the arch, H is the height of the rise of the arch, L is half of the chord of the arc (the length of the arched opening).

Due to the fact that the arch consists of several parts, for the manufacture of which it is necessary to use a board of a certain width, we will calculate the dimensions of the part that can be made from a board with specific dimensions. To do this, you need to solve the inverse problem. Taking into account the known radius of the arch and the height of its rise (in this case, this is the width of the board), we calculate the maximum possible length of the part that can be made from a board with a certain width, that is, we will calculate the length of the arch. Due to the fact that we already know certain ratios from previous calculations, we derive the following formula:

L2 = 2RH - H2

HR-H2

To properly make an arch, you need to prepare several more details, taking into account the fact that during the installation process they will have to be joined. The docking method is selected depending on the purpose of the arch. The use of overhead parts along the "cheeks" of the arch and the joining of two arches are practiced, taking into account the shift by half the part.

In the process of calculating the details, it is necessary to take into account which side of the arch, depending on its location in relation to the details, we are most interested in (internal or external). Simply put, we need to understand how the supporting parts of the arch will be located in relation to the arch itself. For example, when arranging a domed roof, the supporting parts of the arched structure will be located below the arch, and when installing the arched vault - above. There are situations when it is necessary to equip a two-sided arch. In the latter case, the calculation of the details of the arch will be carried out according to the smallest rounding.

If during operation, the arch will carry high loads, it is necessary to strengthen it with the help of various beams and puffs installed between the arch nodes. Thus, you can equip a supporting truss that can withstand increased loads.

If you decide to equip the arch in the Gothic style, you need to determine the radius of the arch at the ends as accurately as possible. In this case, you will make it easier for yourself by using the empirical method of calculating the arch, with the help of which you will experimentally select the rounding point of the arch, then from this point draw a line down parallel to the wall, measure the resulting distance and draw a line of the same length on the other side. Then the leg of the compass is placed on this line, the distance (radius) is determined and, moving down or up parallel to the line, the point is determined where the wall line and the arc of the arch will close through the second (smaller) arc. On the second side of the drawing, you need to do the same.

To make it easier for yourself and calculate the arch as efficiently as possible, you can make several drawings and choose the most suitable one. As you already understood, the given examples of calculating the arch are far from the only ones, and there are other calculation methods, however, the empirical method clearly demonstrates to you how the arch will look after installation. In addition, in the process of making calculations, you can easily adjust the drawing until you achieve the desired result.

Having made a drawing and making sure that it is correct, it is necessary to make an arch template, using which you can easily mount any arched structure.

A few words about the choice of material for the arch

For the manufacture of the arch can be used various materials, including metal (calculation metal arch produced a little differently), as well as brick and concrete, but the simplest and cheapest way is to make a drywall arch. Due to the fact that the arch made of brick and concrete will be very heavy, it is necessary to mount a reinforcing cage for it. The fittings are easy to bend, and you can easily weld a frame out of it. After that, using a puncher, it is necessary to drill holes in the walls, drive pins into them and weld an arched frame to them.

Making a drywall arch is much easier and faster, but the finished structure will be less durable than its brick or concrete counterparts. To do this, it is necessary to make a frame from tin profiles, sheathe them with drywall on the sides, and use segments for lining the internal opening (for their manufacture, drywall is cut on one side, bent and finally fixed with self-tapping screws). The resulting edges must be smoothed with putty.

Calculation of a brick arch: highlights

To carry out the calculation of a brick arch, it is also necessary to make a template from fiberboard, the quality of which largely determines the performance and appearance of the future brick arch. First of all, it is necessary to calculate the dimensions of the template, which will require knowledge of the width of the arched opening. For example, the width of the arched opening is 15000 mm.

Since the width of the template should be 5 mm less, then it will be 1495 mm. Even if the template swells from moisture, you can easily dismantle it in the final stages of work. The height of the template should correspond to the height of the arch, in our case, let it be 168 mm. Since it is recommended to lay a whole front brick in the upper part of the arch, it is necessary to calculate the number of bricks. Since the height of one row is about 72mm (brick height + joint height), and the total number of rows is 4, the arched height is 72*4 - 120 = 168mm. (120mm at the same time - the height of the brick laid on the edge).

In conclusion

Most often, the installation of arched structures is carried out for decorative design space, regardless of its purpose. It can be a house, an apartment, or an office.

Often, with the help of an arch, they make out a doorway between the kitchen and the living room. However, the installation of the arch can also be used in the process of larger types of construction. If you plan to decorate the interior of the room with the help of an arch, experts recommend making an arched structure from drywall, as it is much cheaper, easier and less labor-intensive. At the same time, the finished structure will not yield to arches made of brick or wood. In order not to be disappointed in the beauty and correctness of the arch, experts recommend approaching the installation of the arch structure with due care and calculating the arch, which can be done in several ways. In our article, we have offered you two of the most common and effective ways calculation of the arch, using which you can build a reliable and aesthetically attractive arch.

The architectural features of buildings of various configurations make it necessary to lay not only walls, but also other surfaces (arches, vaults, pillars, etc.) of brick or other regular-shaped stone.

The peculiarity is that all work must be carried out using a special solution (Portland cement), which has special characteristics. This is due to the need for the fastest solidification of the solution.

The process of laying arches and vaults is quite laborious and requires special attention and skills. Before embarking on this task, a project should be drawn up, approved, and only then proceed with construction. If there are working drawings in which the calculation of the brick vault is made, materials are purchased to complete the task.

Traditionally, for laying arches and vaults, wedge bricks are used, which have a trapezoidal shape. The use of such bricks provides not only the aesthetic appeal of the structure, but also the maximum reliability and strength of the fastening of the entire structure.

You can also use an ordinary brick, which, if necessary, is hewn along its entire length to give a wedge-shaped shape. Continuous quality control of the masonry is mandatory. To do this, use a cord, ruler, level. The lock brick is installed with force, thus jamming the masonry.

Scope of arches and vaults

The arched vault can serve as one of the options for making the top of any opening. As a rule, such a structure is constructed:

in wall openings;
as a lining;
in the construction of stoves, fireplaces, outdoor grills, barbecue;
to create an original portal (gate, gate).

Additionally, you can build a brick dome, which will serve as a kind of "highlight" architectural design. The master laying of a brick cornice looks no less attractive, but due to certain nuances that do not allow this idea to be carried out on different objects real estate.

Before starting laying, you should make a formwork along which the template will move, while taking into account the following parameters:

choice of arch form;
accurate calculation of the radius of the arch;
determination of the distance between the supports;
clarification of the thickness of the masonry;
advance paynemt.

If the arch is planned to be erected on an old building, then it is first necessary to strengthen the foundation, which minimizes the likelihood of deformation of the openings. The process of laying vaults depends on the planned type of construction, but it involves this event in several stages:

drawing up a design drawing;
template installation;
vault masonry;
strengthening the structure;
dismantling circled;
execution of facing decoration.

All steps are completed as quickly as possible. Moreover, the laying must be carried out from the "heels" to the "castle" synchronously on both sides. The seams are not left empty. They are completely filled with mortar, and the upper surface is rubbed with the remains of the mixture. An important role for the implementation of this event is played by air temperature and humidity. Lay out the brick vault sub-zero temperatures Absolutely forbidden.

The construction of arches and vaults is used not only in civil engineering. Quite often, this technology is used in the process of building churches. The technology for performing this event is similar. The difference is only in the scale and quantity of the necessary building materials. By design, brick vaults are:

steep;
flat;
gentle;
semicircular;
three-center.

Carrying out preparatory work and the laying process

church building example

Having visually assessed the scope of work, one should proceed to the construction of an approved design. For the manufacture of a template, chipboard and bars are usually used. Pre-calculated parameters are applied to the sheet and the workpiece is cut out. The template should be mounted very carefully, since the aesthetics of the future arch depend on it. If there is a need to create more solid construction, then it is more expedient to use a frame made of reinforcement. Such a template is used as a circle during the construction of the formwork.

Before starting masonry, all necessary materials and tools should be placed as close as possible to working area. The brick is pre-soaked in water. Since the laying of the arch is carried out simultaneously from two sides, the brick should be stored both on the right and on the left side of the place of work. If a used brick is used as the basis of the masonry, then in order to give aesthetics, the surface of the arch must be additionally lined. You can also build a cornice brick wall, which will create a finished look of the structure.

If there is no confidence in the accuracy of masonry, you should first rehearse the whole process. After analyzing the shortcomings and evaluating your abilities, you can proceed to the construction of the arch directly at the site of its future location.

Considering the projects of brick churches, it becomes obvious that the height of the dome and its overall dimensions suggest strengthening the walls of the building. Laying is carried out according to a single-row or multi-row system of dressing seams. In places of maximum load, a steel mesh is additionally laid, which does not allow cracks to appear.

Considering that over time the vaults can sag a little, the installation of the circles is performed a little higher than the expected height. In this case, the brick ceiling vaults will be built with the utmost care, avoiding any oversights. After all, even the slightest flaw can lead to instability of the structure and its further destruction.

After the arched brick vault is laid out, it is necessary to provide time to allow the mortar to finally harden. Depending on the complexity and dimensions of the structure this stage may last several days, after which it will be possible to dismantle the formwork. In some cases, it is not possible to painlessly remove the formwork without damaging the vault. Therefore, it is necessary to work out in advance the possibility of installing a removable structure.