In partnership with Carsey3D, Massive Form speculates multiple pedestrian bridges that are made of 3d printed concrete parts post-tensioned with steel cables.
Our proposed bridge design is very similar to natural structures where the geometry of the structure precisely follows the direction of the force flow within the system. It goes beyond compression only by embracing tension as an unavoidable force in systems resilient to different loading scenarios. Hence, a combined structural design and fabrication approach was developed to achieve the innovative structure with the intention of also minimizing carbon through reduced materials and recyclability.
Through the design freedom enabled by the design approach, 3D concrete printing, and the use of post-tensioning, the final design favorably has minimal reinforcement while achieving the desired structural performance. Overall, the bridge demonstrates how new structural forms can be achieved by combining modern technologies and developing a non-restrictive, comprehensive design approach that leads to more sustainable practices.
Design Team
Dr. Masoud Akbarzadeh
Visualization: Fortes.vision
In Collaboration with
Polyhedral Structures Laboratory, Hua Chai for Design