Natural Arch Structural Stability Investigation
Key Features
- Natural arch onto which an automobile would be driven for film production
- Federal land owner needed assurance that the arch would not suffer adverse effects
- Evaluated the physical and engineering properties of the arch
- Calculated loads and determined that the arch would be safe
EarthFax was selected by a film production company to evaluate the stability of a natural arch in southeastern Utah. The arch was to be used in the production of a training film for a major U.S. automobile manufacturer, with an automobile to be driven onto the arch for part of the film. As a condition for approval to access the arch, the Federal land owner required that the structural stability of the arch be evaluated prior to adding the load of the automobile.
Of primary concern to the use of the arch was a crack that extended through the arch, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, at the end where the automobile was to drive onto the arch. EarthFax obtained various measurements of the arch, collected samples of rock that had previously fallen from the arch, and had those samples analyzed for strength properties. We then calculated natural loads and the anticipated load of the automobile. Based on this analysis, we determined that the arch was stable and the production company was allowed to proceed with their filming. The arch experienced no adverse effects during production of the film.
