Innovative Stone Arch Footbridges

Innovative stone arch footbridges made of two stone arch ribs supporting the deck are introduced. Therefore, stone ribs are not stabilized by earth filling between ribs and deck, since the arches are connected to the deck through steel members supporting it. Stone arches are made of squared elements connected one to the other by only contact forces. Prestressing is obtained through tendons placed in drilled holes. Contact forces are thus increased and the eccentricity of the arch compressive force due to external loads (including seismic action) controlled, too. Stone elements are jointed by interposing a layer of fibre-reinforced mortar between them. Steel members supporting the deck are connected to the arches through a steel plate inserted between two stone elements, and interposed between two mortar layers. Prestressed stone arch footbridges show to have high aesthetic value, with the horizontal deck distant from the stone arch ribs.