Hillhouse footbridges: reinterpreting a traditional design
Author(s): |
Rebecca Nixon
Guy Nordenson |
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Medium: | conference paper |
Language(s): | English |
Conference: | Footbridge 2005 (Second International Congress), Venezia, 06-08 December 2005 |
Published in: | Footbridge 2005 |
Year: | 2005 |
Abstract: | A new road bridge and two flanking footbridges have been designed to replace a deteriorating steel bridge spanning across a former canal and railway in a historic district of New Haven, Connecticut on the campus of Yale University. Each 18.3m-long footbridge comprises two perforated, corrugated-web steel plate girders which function as both the main structural elements and the walkway railings. The diamond-shaped perforations reduce weight and create an effect that recalls the lattice canal bridges formerly built in the region. The web corrugation varies across the length of each girder and is designed to brace the compression flange of the girder at mid-span and stiffen the web at the span ends. The combined effect of the perforations and corrugation is to create an efficient structure that is innovative and playful while at the same time reminiscent of a traditional engineering aesthetic. This paper describes the design and analysis of the pedestrian bridges. |