Triangular arch

In <a href="/facts/Architecture/FccThs8G">architecture</a>, a triangular arch (sometimes angular arch) typically defines an <a href="/facts/Arch/t9L51pqn">arch</a> where the <a href="/facts/Intrados/t9L51pqn">intrados</a> (inner surface of an arch) consists of two straight segments formed by two <a href="/facts/Stone_slab/SsExfu0A">stone slabs</a> leaning against each other. In this roof-like arrangement, <a href="/facts/Mitre_joint/IKUAxb91">mitre joint</a> is usually used at the <a href="/facts/Crown_(arch)/t9L51pqn">crown</a>, thus the arch was in the past also called a mitre arch. Brick builders would call triangular any arch with straight inclined sides. <a href="/facts/Maya_civilization/JMynpRSR">Mayan</a> <a href="/facts/Corbel_arch/fdfdTyaQ">corbel arches</a> are also sometimes called triangular due to their shape.
Since the sides of a triangular arch are experiencing bending stress, it is a <a href="/facts/False_arch/fdfdTyaQ">false arch</a> in a structural sense (historically preceding the invention of <a href="/facts/True_arch/t9L51pqn">true arches</a> and going back to <a href="/facts/Neolithic/wRS0Bnh4">Neolithic</a> times). The design was used in <a href="/facts/Anglo-Saxon_England/V25yYLrM">Anglo-Saxon England</a> until the late 11th century (St Mary Goslany) over small openings.

Triangular arch open-in-new

Triangular arch