Formlogik an Brücken - Teil 1 - Überlegungen zur authentischen Formbildung von integralen Brückenenden

Form logic on bridges (Part 1) - Considerations on authentic shaping of integral bridge ends

In recent years bridges with short and medium spans have been designed as integral structures without expansion joints and bearings. The structural system is based on the frame system and requires a differentiated conceptual approach not only in structural but also in aesthetic concerns. In this paper form suggestions are introduced, which provide the inherent intention of the integral structure to the viewer. However, many bridges within the infrastructure are calculated and structurally designed as monolithic structures but have a visual appearance of conventional supported and assembled bridges. Moreover, many engineers are not sufficiently aware of the essential correlation between the rational structural design and its formal expression. In order to achieve holistic and authentic designs, a coherence between the form of the bridge and its underlying structural system must be perceptible. The aim is to encourage engineers from the pure engineer-technical to an extended ingenious approach that considers form aspects which are developed based on the structural system and ultimately leads to aesthetically satisfactory results. In this first paper, conceptual form considerations for integral bridge ends are discussed, which are based on derived functional units and reflect the integral structural system.