Arched structures and method for the construction of same

An arched structure comprising a plurality of voussoirs, said structure having a defined horizontal span each of said voussoirs comprising an intrados surface and an extrados surface, each of said surfaces extending between first and second end bearing surfaces, wherein:

• a) said first end bearing surface of each voussoir includes a protrusion extending from said first end bearing surface, said protrusion being mated with a corresponding recess in an abutting end bearing surface of a first other one of said voussoirs;
• (b) said second end bearing surface of each voussoir includes a recess in said second end bearing surface, said recess being mated with a corresponding protrusion in an abutting end bearing surface of a second other one of said voussoirs;
• and
• c) at least some of said voussoirs include an associated connector secured to the voussoir for connecting one end of an associated tension member to the voussoir while an opposed end of the tension member is connected to an associated mooring positioned at a distance away from said horizontal span.

An arched structure comprising a plurality of voussoir, said structure having a defined horizontal span, each of said voussoirs comprising an intrados surface and an extrados surface, each of said surfaces extending between first and second end bearing surfaces;

• wherein
• a) said first end bearing surface of each voussoir includes a protrusion extending from said first end bearing surface, said protrusion being mated with a corresponding recess in an abutting end bearing surface of a first other one of said voussoirs;
• b) said second end bearing surface of each voussoir includes a recess in said second end bearing surface, said recess being mated with a corresponding protrusion in an abutting end bearing surface of a second other one of said voussoirs;
• c) at least some of said voussoirs include a connector secured to the voussoir;
• and
• d) at least some of said voussoirs having a connector being moored, each by an associated mooring tension member connected at one end to the connector and at an opposed end to an associated mooring positioned at a distance away from said horizontal span

A first voussoir for use in an arched structure between second and third voussoirs, said structure having a defined horizontal span, said first voussoir comprising:

• a) an intrados surface and an extrados surface, each of said surfaces extending between first and second end hearing surfaces;
• wherein:
• (i) said first end bearing surface includes a protrusion extending from the surface, said protrusion being mateable with a corresponding recess in an abutting end bearing surface of said second voussoir, and
• (ii) said second end bearing surface includes a recess in said surface, said recess being mateable with a corresponding protrusion in an abutting end bearing surface of said third voussoir;
• b) a first connector secured to said first voussoir in or at said extrados surface of said first voussoir for connecting one end of a first flexible tension member to said first voussoir;
• and,
• c) a second connector secured to said first voussoir in or at said first end bearing surface of said first voussoir for connecting one end of a second flexible tension member to said first voussoir.