The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Complete


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WHAT IS AN ARCH?  
The arch is nothing else than a force originated by two weaknesses,  
for the arch in buildings is composed of two segments of a circle,  
each of which being very weak in itself tends to fall; but as each  
opposes this tendency in the other, the two weaknesses combine to  
form one strength.  
OF THE KIND OF PRESSURE IN ARCHES.  
As the arch is a composite force it remains in equilibrium because  
the thrust is equal from both sides; and if one of the segments  
weighs more than the other the stability is lost, because the  
greater pressure will outweigh the lesser.  
OF DISTRIBUTING THE PRESSURE ABOVE AN ARCH.  
Next to giving the segments of the circle equal weight it is  
necessary to load them equally, or you will fall into the same  
defect as before.  
WHERE AN ARCH BREAKS.  
An arch breaks at the part which lies below half way from the  
centre.  
631  


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629 630 631 632 633

Quick Jump
1 306 613 919 1225