flying buttress
Cathedral wall brace
A flying buttress is an arched exterior support that transfers the weight of a roof or vault away from a wall to an outer pier.
The structure allows Gothic cathedrals to have thinner walls and larger windows by channeling thrust outward rather than downward.
The flying buttresses of Notre-Dame are among its most recognizable features.
Arch with angled apex
- traceryDecorative branching stonework
- spireTapering architectural peak
- naveChurch's main interior
- clerestoryElevated fenestrated church wall
apse · chancel · ambulatory · gargoyle · pinnacle · finial · ogive · rose window
Forceful forward motion
- counterforceMilitary-targeted strike capability
- load-bearingSustaining structural mass
- abutmentLoad-bearing end structure
- pierWaterfront landing structure
weight distribution · bracing · reinforcement · cantilever · arch · span · anchorage · strut
Stretched or strained state
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- equilibriumState of balance
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- structural analysisCalculating forces in structures
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- ashlarPrecision-cut building stone
- carved stoneRock shaped by chisel
- quarriedExtracted from open pit
- chiselEdged carving implement
dressed stone · sandstone · granite · mortar · stonework · masonry · weathering · corbel
pointed arch
Arch with angled apex
clerestory · apse · chancel · ambulatory · gargoyle · pinnacle · finial · ogive · rose window · stained glass
thrust
Forceful forward motion
- counterforceMilitary-targeted strike capability
- load-bearingSustaining structural mass
- abutmentLoad-bearing end structure
pier · weight distribution · bracing · reinforcement · cantilever · arch · span · anchorage · strut
tension
Stretched or strained state
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- equilibriumState of balance
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
structural analysis · counterweight · dead load · stability · static equilibrium
limestone
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- ashlarPrecision-cut building stone
- carved stoneRock shaped by chisel
- quarriedExtracted from open pit
chisel · dressed stone · sandstone · granite · mortar · stonework · masonry · weathering · corbel · keystone
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- Gothicgargoyle, gothic fiction, pointed arch, gothic architecture, gothic revival
- abbey featuresabbey, cloister, chapter house, refectory, scriptorium
- architectural elementscolumn, columns, arch, archway, dome
- building structurebeam, column, truss, joist, girder
- Cathedral Artrose window, gargoyle, altarpiece, pointed arch, tracery
flying buttressbearing wall
Wall supporting structure above
post-and-beam · load-bearing wall · massif · steel frame · cantilever
flight, flying, flyer, flyers, buttress, buttresses, flying buttresses