Abstract

After the network arch remained almost completely unnoticed for decades, it now constitutes an increasingly popular element of today's bridge construction repertory. Its structural advantages convince more and more bridge authorities, so that numerous new network arches are built all over the world. This circumstance calls for straight-forward and quick ways to nearly optimal preliminary designs, especially for engineers who are new to this type of bridge. The biggest design challenge is the hanger arrangement that depends on the number of hanger sets, number of hangers per set as well as the hanger slope and hanger position. Instead of determining the geometry of each hanger individually, it is recommended to use general generation methods. The most common generation methods rhombus net, constant angle change, constant distance as well as the radial arrangement are discussed and evaluated. Ultimately, the radial arrangement turns out to be a very easy and fast method to obtain structurally very advanta-geous hanger arrangements. ©Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG.