Arch Bridge is a bridge whose primary load-bearing element is a curved arch working in compression. Load applied to the deck or fill above is carried around the arch ring and transferred as inclined thrust into abutments, foundations or — in buried arch structures — the surrounding engineered soil. The form has been used for over two millennia and remains one of the most material-efficient bridge types.
How an arch bridge carries load
Unlike beam bridges, which resist load in bending, an arch resists load predominantly in axial compression. This allows materials strong in compression — masonry, concrete and steel — to be used efficiently over medium spans. The horizontal thrust at the springings must be resisted by substantial abutments, competent founding strata or, in soil-steel composite structures, by the compacted structural backfill that confines the arch.
Types of arch bridge
- Masonry arch — the traditional UK form; tens of thousands remain in service on road and rail networks.
- Concrete arch — cast in situ or precast, used for medium to long spans.
- Steel arch and tied arch — the deck hangs from or sits on a steel arch rib; a tie member can absorb horizontal thrust where ground conditions are poor.
- Buried (soil-steel composite) arch — a corrugated steel arch or box profile interacting structurally with compacted backfill. This is the fastest-growing arch form for spans of roughly 3–25 m.
Buried corrugated steel arch bridges
Buried arch bridges built from deep-corrugated steel plates — such as ViaCon’s SuperCor® and ViaPlate® systems — carry road, rail, pedestrian and wildlife crossings without bearings, joints or a conventional deck. The steel shell and engineered backfill act compositely, giving high load capacity from a lightweight structure. Typical benefits over concrete portal or beam bridges include installation measured in days rather than months, no in-river piers, lower embodied carbon and a design life of 100 years or more with appropriate corrosion protection.
UK design standards
Arch bridges on the UK highway network are designed to the structural Eurocodes and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB). Buried flexible structures are covered by CD 375 (Design of corrugated steel buried structures), with assessment of existing masonry arches under CS 454. Rail structures follow Network Rail standards alongside the Eurocodes.
Related ViaCon solutions
Explore ViaCon Buried Bridges and our full Bridges & Culverts range, or read why steel outperforms concrete on carbon and programme. Related glossary entries: road bridge, box culvert and pipe arch.
Frequently asked questions about arch bridge
What is an arch bridge?
An arch bridge is a bridge whose main structural element is a curved arch that carries load in compression, transferring thrust to abutments, foundations or surrounding engineered soil rather than resisting load in bending like a beam bridge.
How does an arch bridge work?
Load applied above the arch is carried around the curved arch ring as axial compression. The resulting inclined thrust at the supports is resisted by abutments or competent ground. In buried soil-steel arches, compacted backfill confines the steel shell and shares the load.
What are the advantages of an arch bridge?
Arches use materials very efficiently in compression, need no intermediate piers over the span, and are visually unobtrusive. Buried steel arches add rapid installation, no bearings or joints to maintain, lower embodied carbon than concrete and design lives of 100 years or more.
What is a buried arch bridge?
A buried arch bridge is a soil-steel composite structure: a corrugated steel arch installed on foundations and covered with compacted engineered backfill. The steel and soil act together to carry road or rail loading, providing spans of roughly 3–25 m.