0
  • DE
  • EN
  • FR
  • International Database and Gallery of Structures

Advertisement

Centner Footbridge bridges the gap between steel structural design and digital fabrication

Author(s):



Medium: journal article
Language(s): English
Published in: Steel Construction, , n. 1, v. 2
Page(s): 33-35
DOI: 10.1002/stco.200910005
Abstract:

The Centner Footbridge at Verviers, Belgium, is a successful design and artifact that links structural optimization and digital steel plate cutting techniques. This steel structure is designed as a statically determinate beam and has a U-profile in cross-section. The webs serving as the safety barriers are assembled from 10 different steel plates that exhibit a laser-cut aperture pattern. The aperture pattern and the steel plate thicknesses have been structurally optimized to deal with the maximum shear forces that occur. For construction purposes, the numerical FE analysis model was translated into a graphic digital model that serves as input data for the steel laser cutter. Once the laser has cut the aperture pattern, the plates are welded together and finished in the fabricator's workshop. The bridge was transported in one piece and installed overnight on site. Recently, the concept of the aperture patterned steel plates has also been successfully applied to other winning design projects. These designs demonstrate that the innovative link between structural optimization and digital steel cutting techniques offers a new and elegant solution for structural systems with a large variety of spans and shapes.

Keywords:
footbridge digital design laser cutter mesh pattern
Available from: Refer to publisher

Structures and Projects

Structurae cannot make the full text of this publication available at this time. The full text can be accessed through the publisher via the DOI: 10.1002/stco.200910005.
  • About this
    data sheet
  • Reference-ID
    10058262
  • Published on:
    15/11/2010
  • Last updated on:
    13/08/2014
 
Structurae cooperates with
International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)
e-mosty Magazine
e-BrIM Magazine