Roman Arch Builder

Students drag nine wedge-shaped voussoirs onto the wooden centering, placing the keystone last, then click the frame or press Remove centering to see if the arch stands. A slider adds a load on top up to 300 kN. Readouts show stones placed, horizontal thrust and the state of the arch. The model uses an 8 m span and 4 m rise. It shows how Roman builders turned weight into compression and why the keystone matters.

• Drag the stones onto the wooden frame one at a time, working up from both sides.
• Place the keystone last and watch the Stones placed readout reach nine.
• Click the wooden frame to remove the centering and see whether the arch stands.
• Raise Load on top and read how Horizontal thrust grows.
• Try to remove the centering before the keystone is in and see what happens.
• Compare the thrust at 0 kN and at 300 kN to see the sideways push at the supports.

1. 1Describe how wedge-shaped stones carry load as compression in an arch.
2. 2Explain the role of the keystone and the temporary centering.
3. 3Relate extra load on an arch to larger horizontal thrust at its base.
4. 4Order the steps of building a Roman arch.

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