This paper deals with the design, production and monitoring of a bio-composite footbridge with a span of 14 m across the river Dommel in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The specific bio-composite material that was used for this research is a Natural Fibre Reinforced Bio-Polymer (NFRBP). The goal of the research is to prove that NFRBP can be applied as a load-bearing structure in an outdoor environment. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary team of academic researchers from two universities and from the Centre of Expertise Biobased Economy, together with a manufacturer from the NFRBP industry, have developed a feasible design that could be produced in a short period of time and within a limited budget. The footbridge was designed, built and installed within less than one year. In the two years after the installation of the footbridge, the structural behaviour of the bridge was monitored by means of optical fibre glass strands, integrated within the structure, with the purpose of measuring deformations and change in elasticity that occur over time.@en

This paper investigates the symbiotic relationship between the architectural appearance of a bridge and the structural design. The research is done by reviewing and comparing the design methodology employed by the first author in the conceptualization of two of his bridges; an early work from 1997 and a recent work from 2017. The review of the early work describes a design methodology that could be described as intuitive design, whereas the later work is the result of computational from-finding and optimization. Parallels are drawn and the historical development of the toolbox of the architect and the engineer is described. The paper analysis the way the two designs were achieved by looking from the perspective of the architect and that of the engineer, two disciplines that nowadays closely work together on the design of a bridge. The paper concludes by identifying the key design considerations to achieve a beautiful yet structurally sound bridge. The question whether beauty can be the sole result of a rational design process towards the most efficient form according to the laws of mechanics, is addressed. This paper demonstrate the belief that when it comes to the design of a bridge, architecture and structure, form and force, are involved in an interdependable and symbiotic relationship.@en

The ShArc is more than just a bridge from A to B; this bold design will become a destination in itself and a cultural landmark for the metropolitan city of Berlin. The tripod shaped bride is located at the intersection of the Spree with the canals Charlottenburg and Landwehr, connecting Charlottenburg with Moabit. The ShArc is a hybrid structure that combines the slenderness of an arc with the stiffness of a shell. The three members of the bridge are connected at the peak of the arc geometry. At that point the deck becomes a public platform where people can enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings. In order to reduce the deck weight in that area and to maintain the open character, an opening has been created in the deck directing the pedestrian flows around the void.For a structurally effective geometry the deck is designed with a significant double curvature. In the cross-section the deck is a U-shaped half-pipe. The sides reach a maximum height at the middle of the span and also serve as a railing. In some areas, perforations are created to create views on the water and on the skyline, combining structural optimization with transparency.@en

The Bio-based composite bridge is a 3TU project which aims to design and realize a 14m span pedestrian bridge made from fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) that have a high percentage of bio-based content. The bridge will be installed over the river Domel, at the campus of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands. The present paper investigates the design potentials and challenges of bio-based fibre-reinforced polymers, which is a relatively new material in architectural and structural bridge design. Along with the design possibilities of the material, the paper presents the entire design process followed from conceptual stage to detailing, focusing on the evaluation of different structural typologies and the optimization of selected geometry.@en