• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.5A
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• pp.477-486
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• 2009

This paper deals with the strongest static arches with the solid regular polygon cross-section. Both span length and volume of arch are always held constant regardless the shape functions of cross-sectional depth of regular polygon. The normal stresses acting on such arches are calculated when both static vertical and horizontal point loads are subjected. By using the calculating results of stresses, the optimal shapes of strongest static arches are obtained, under which the maximum normal stress become to be minimum. For determining the redundant of such indeterminate arches, the least work theorem is adopted. As the numerical results, the configurations, i.e. section ratios, of the strongest static arches are reported in tables and figures. The results of this study can be utilized in the field of the minimum weight design of the arch structures.