Arch bridges are commonly built with one of four designs: hingeless, two-hinged, three-hinged and tied. Each type deals with horizontal pressure differently. Some require more sturdy foundations. In one case, foundation plays a small role in construction.
The curved structure of an arch bridge gives it a high tolerance for bending. Bridge hinges are bearings which connect a part of the bridge to either another part of the bridge or the foundation. The hinges allow some level of rotation between parts. Hingeless arches will not allow any rotation at the foundation site and as the name suggests, uses no hinges. Two-hinged arches allow rotation and use hinged bearings. Three-hinged arches have an extra hinge on the top of the arch. This type of arch bridge will suffer little if there is an earthquake or any other movement at the foundations. Tied arches can allow construction even if the ground is not that solid. This type of arch does not rely on the foundation to restrain horizontal forces; the girder ties the ends of the arch together.
The design of a certain bridge dependent on the function it will be serving. Arch bridges are usually well-suited for crossing small valleys and rivers.
Bridges have to overcome two forces: compression and tension. Buckling can occur when compression reaches certain levels. Snapping can occur when tension reaches certain levels. Bridges transfer or dissipate the forces to overcome them. To dissipate a force, the bridge needs to spread the force over a larger area. To transfer force, the bridge needs to move it from a weak area to a stronger one.
The world's longest arch bridge is the Lupu Bridge in Shanghai, China. The Pont du Garde, an aqueduct built more than 2,000 years ago is an example of an arch bridge. The first iron arch bridge was constructed in 1781 in Shropshire, England.