Chap. III.

BRICKLAYIXG AND TILING. 56S

I,, leaving a cavity of 2 or more inches between
them,
(fig.
6lli).
1903. Groined arches, A groin is the angular
curve formed by the intersection of two semi cylin-
ders or arches. Tlie centering for raising tlie more
simple groins that occur in using brick arches,
belongs to the section Carpentky. Tiie turning
a simple arch on a centre only requires care to keep
the courses as close as possible, and to use very
little mortar on the inner part of the joints. In
executing a brick groin, the difficulty arises from
the peculiar mode of making proper bond, ;it the
intersection of the two circles as they gradually rise
to the crown, where they form an exact point. At
the Intersection of tliese angles, the inner rib should
be perfectly straight and perpendicular to a diagonal line drawn on the plan. After tha
centres are set, tlie application of the bilik to the ang'e will immediately show in what
direction it is to be cut. With respect to the sides, tliey are turned as for conunon cylln-
dric vaults. Mr. George Tappen, an ar-
^^^
chltect of great practical skill, introduced
/ ^ \
a method of constructing groins rising from
octangular ))iers, which had the advantage
of not only imparting strength to the angle,
which in the common groin is extremely
delicient, but ot increasing the space for
the storage or removal of goods, and fur-
ther, of strengthening the angles of tlie
y
groin in tliis construction by carrying the
<
band round the diagonals
(Jiff.
617
k.}
of
e<iual breadth, and thus affording better
bond to the bricks,
1903'/. The Metropolitan Building Act,
1855, requires that tnider a public way,
an arch, if it be employed, of a span of not
more than 10 feet, is to be at least
8.J
inches
thick ; when not exceeding 1,5 feet, it must
be 13 inches at least; and beyond that
width the thickness requires special appro-
bation. If of iron construction or other incombustible material, it must be built in a man
ner approved by the district surveyor. An aich over a jjublic way must be formed in tlie
above manner, but a span not exceeding 9 feet must he Scinches thick at least. A like
special approval is required if the arch or floor be of iron.
. C17/t-.
riREPROOF ARCHES, FLOORS, AND ROOFS.
19035. Light arched
flat floors,
composed of bricks cemented with gypsum or plaster,
have been in common use in Roussillon from time immemorial. Rondelet is of opinion
that the segment of a circle is a better form for such arches than the low semi-ellipse. He
describes apartments of 18 feet by 25 feet, as used at the War Office at Versailles, covered
with brick arches of which the rise was only ^',th part of the span and in five stories.
The coach-houses and stabbs of the Marshal de Belle Isle at Bisy near Vernon, were
arched in an elliptical form, having a rise of
i
th of their span, which was 32 feet
9|
inches.
They were not finished until a year after the walls and roof had been completed. The
walls were built of rubble-work having chains of cut stone at intervals of about 16 feet.
They were 2 feet
8^
inches thick, being about equal to -,'2 f
P^'*
f ^l'^ span. These
arches were formed of a double thickness of bricks laid flat, and in plaster, built in succes-
sion, with the vertical joints broken. The haunches were filled up with rubble stone in
plaster. The springing was formed by notches in the wall, above which the regular courses
of stone projected inwards as gathering courses. Above all, a third course of flat bricks
was laid horizontally, forming a pavement. Rondelet considers that arches of small and light
materials cemented by gypsum become as it were one body, and exert little or no lateral
pressure upon the abutments excepting at first, because that cement has a tendency to
swell in setting. Rondelet relates that a stone of 4000 lbs. or 5000 lbs. weight was dropped
upon one of these arches from a height of 4 or 5 feet, which made a large hole through the
arch, without doing any further injury. If mortar be used the parts must be thicker, and
the centering left, until the work has set. Portland and Roman cement might be better
than gypsum for work in England. Rondelet also states that it is better to use coved
arches springing from the four walls, than a common arch springing from two opposite
walls only.