yielding arches

yielding arches

[′yēld·iŋ ′ärch·əz]

(mining engineering)

Steel arches installed in underground openings as the ground is removed to support loads caused by changing ground movement or by faulted and fractured rock; when the ground load exceeds the design load of the arch as installed, yielding takes places in the joint of the arch, permitting the overburden to settle into a natural arch of its own and thus tending to bring all forces into equilibrium.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.