Basket-handle arch

A basket-handle arch is an arch with the profile of its intrados (inner surface) formed by a sequence of circular arcs with neighboring ones being tangent to each other (smoothly transitioning), and the end ones tangent with supports. For example, a three-centered arch contains three arc segments with different centers; the other common type is five-centered. The basket-handle arch is used in architecture, especially bridges. Its shape is similar to that of a semi-ellipse, which has a continuous curvature variation from its origin to its apex, i.e. from the extremities of the long axis to the apex of the short axis. Also known as a depressed arch, basket arch.