Preview

Author(s):	Adriaenssens, S.; Ney, L.; Bodarwe, E.; Dister, V.
Title:	Centner Footbridge bridges the gap between steel structural design and digital fabrication
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.
Source:	Steel Construction 2 (2009), No. 1
Page/s:	33-35
Language of Publication:	English

I would like to buy the article

You can download this article for 25 € as a PDF file (0.3 MB).
The PDF file can be read, printed and saved.
Duplication and forwarding to third parties is not allowed.

Please enter your email address now to start the order process.
The link for the download will be sent to the email address stated after the
order process has been completed.

Your email address

I am an online subscriber

As an online subscriber of the journal "Steel Construction" you can access this article via Wiley Online Library.

I would like to order "Steel Construction"

This article has been published in the journal "Steel Construction". If you would like to learn more about the journal, you can order a free sample copy or find out more information on our website.

Prices include VAT and postage. Prices for 2017/2018.
€ Prices apply to Germany only. Subject to alterations, errors excepted.