What is the center piece of an arch that locks the voussoirs and transfers loads?

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Multiple Choice

What is the center piece of an arch that locks the voussoirs and transfers loads?

Explanation:
The central piece is the keystone. In an arch, the wedge-shaped blocks around it are the voussoirs, and the keystone sits at the crown, locking them together. When load presses down, each voussoir transfers forces to its neighbors in compression, creating a continuous ring that resists outward thrust. The keystone locks this system in place, directing the loads into the abutments at the ends and down into the supports. Without the keystone, the arch would loosen and fail because the wedges could shift and the arch would not stay in compression.

The central piece is the keystone. In an arch, the wedge-shaped blocks around it are the voussoirs, and the keystone sits at the crown, locking them together. When load presses down, each voussoir transfers forces to its neighbors in compression, creating a continuous ring that resists outward thrust. The keystone locks this system in place, directing the loads into the abutments at the ends and down into the supports. Without the keystone, the arch would loosen and fail because the wedges could shift and the arch would not stay in compression.

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