What is voussoir?
voussoir is a type of brick or block used in the construction of an arch that forms a rounded part above. In general, voussoir is somehow in the form of a wedge or tapering, with a narrower or thinner ending towards the bottom or interior of the arch and the wider or stronger ending upwards or towards the outside of the arch. Alternatively, regular rectangular bricks used in the same way can be called voussoirs.
The term voussoir comes French, which means "turn or turn". This refers to the ability of blocks to rotate or transfer the load on the arch from the blocks forming the curved part to the vertical supports. This load transmission is a key principle of all arches and is one of the most important elements of architectural design in buildings of many cultures and civilizations dating back to ancient times.
A typical arc consists of vertical piles of blocks that can be freely standing or incorporated into the wall. On the top of the vertical support is the rounded part that candiffer in profile and can describe the arch or segment of the right circle or other shape, such as a parabola. Blocks or bricks at the top of the arch are voussoirs. Voussoir is generally in the shape of a wedge. Many arches are built of stone blocks and voussoirs can be placed with or without mortar. The arc built with voussoirs is very strong, capable of supporting large costs.
The principle behind the arc is that each individual voussoir, based on its wedge shape and the strength of the rock or brick under compression, starting from the upper part of the arch, transmitting the burden over it in a radial way to another voussoir in the series, leading to transmission to vertical support. It depends on the specific block, voussoir called Keystone. Keystone is located in the middle of the peak of the arch and the provides center point for load transmission on both sides of the arch as descends to vertical supports.
cut stone blocks can be used as voussoirsOr cast bricks and arches that use them can be constructed with or without mortar. While the basic voussoir has a simple wedge shape, variations in this shape are possible, which are used more in the interest of aesthetics than functions. Blocks of alternating colors, complex shapes or cuts with different angles are often used. Many architectural styles have different types of voussoirs. Occasionally you can see arches from individual rows or more courses of rectangular bricks with layers of wedge -shaped mortar and bricks in these arches are also sometimes called voussoirs.