With a length of 29 meters, Nijmegen in the Netherlands now has the world’s longest 3D-printed concrete bicycle bridge.
The uniqueness of this project lies in the complete freedom of form, thanks to the research done at the Eindhoven University of Technology and the ongoing development of 3D concrete printing tech.
The new appearance in the Dukenburg park De Geologenstrook is characterized by sloping and round shapes, according to the press release by the university.
September 8th-The Official Inauguration of the Innovative Bridge
The bridge was printed layer by layer in the factory of Saint Gobain Weber Beamix for concrete printing and built by the construction company BAM.
Interestingly, this isn’t only the longest bridge, but also the largest from concrete in the world for which an architect had total freedom.
The architect Michiel van der Kley was given total freedom on the design and wasn’t impeded by the traditional processes or the material.
However, the span isn’t uniform. The structure’s changing weight had to be considered.
This is why they decided during the printing process to divide the bridge into parts. Then, the final design was generated with a parametric model, that is, one based on data.
The Advantages of Printed vs. Traditional Bridges
Generally speaking, printed bridges are built much faster than traditional ones. Also, they offer more room and flexibility for customization. Plus, they’re more sustainable and there’s less need for concrete.
The partners’ initiative in this project is to use 3D concrete printing as inspiration for a sustainable construction method in the production of houses, bridges, and more.
Rijkswaterstaat and the designer Van der Kley took the initiative for the project and donated the bridge to the Nijmegen municipality in commemoration of their election for a European Green Capital in 2018.
To get the proper expertise and knowledge, the creators worked with the Eindhoven University of Technology and Theo Salet, an expert in 3D-printed buildings. Moreover, the engineering and consultancy firm Witteveen+Bos translated the design into printable elements.
Printing of Concrete Is Full of Potential
Summum Engineering engineered the parametric model. Salet, a professor of Concrete Structures at the Eindhoven University of Technology, noted that the printing of concrete has major potential for growth.
This is because the use of raw materials is reduced and the speed of construction is increased. The plans for the future are to make concrete more sustainable and even reusable.
He added that there’s a lot more to be gained in the supply chain and he’s very proud that the expertise they’ve developed has entered the industry so fast.
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