Patent ID: 8479473

Claim:
Method of constructing a supporting structure in arched form, comprising: providing an initially straight or pre-curved frame structure having a first end and a second end opposite to said first end, said first and second ends being separated from one another by an initial distance; pivotally supporting said first and second ends; pushing the first and second ends towards one another to achieve a displacement of said first and second ends relative to one another, thus causing the first and second ends to pivot and said frame structure to progressively and flexibly bend against a resiliency thereof into a final arched form, wherein the displacement of said first and second ends relative to one another amounts to at least 1% of the initial distance between said first and second ends; and fixing said first and second ends relative to one another in their displaced position so as to preserve the final arched form of said frame structure, wherein said frame structure comprises hollow tubular fiber-reinforced polymer elements extending from said first end to said second end and wherein concrete is poured into said hollow tubular fiber-reinforced elements, when said first and second ends are fixed relative to one another in their displaced position, said hollow tubular fiber-reinforced elements serving as formwork for said concrete.