China has thousands of years of experience in building bridges. Historically, bridges with solid structures will even be used today. Why do we use 3D printing to build bridges? This article will answer for you.

There are many reasons why 3D printing bridge has taken an exciting step in the field of construction. 3D printing not only makes it easier to make interesting, exotic shapes, but also helps save material. This not only reduces the cost, but also reduces the construction time. In today's era, this approach is accepted.

Shanghai

Early last year, China became the site of the world's largest walking 3D printing Bridge. It has an amazing length of 26.3 m and a width of 3.6 M. The bridge was designed by Professor Xu Weiguo of Tsinghua University, one of the famous universities in China. The concrete 3D printing system developed by the team of University engineers and researchers was used to complete the construction. The system consists of two robotic arms that move and deposit concrete layers.

The 3D printing structure of this size must be printed into multiple parts for splicing. The arch structure consists of 44 3D printed concrete blocks, and the side of the bridge consists of 68 parts. The entire printing process for all concrete parts took a total of 450 hours.

Parts of the bridge are hollow to save weight and material usage. However, to match the required structural strength, reinforcing fibers are added to the concrete mix.

Of course, the main purpose of this bridge is to show the pure potential of 3D printing in the construction field. With 3D printing, the production cost of the bridge is greatly reduced. There is no need for reinforcement and formwork required by traditional concrete construction technology. It is estimated that the price of the bridge will be about 30% higher if it is built with traditional construction technology. The researchers engaged in this project embedded different sensors into the bridge to monitor the vibration and stress of the structure. The idea is that sensors monitor the behavior of the bridge structure under varying loads. The collected data can then be used for further development of 3D printing of concrete.

3D printing Bridge Amsterdam

MX3d 3D printing Bridge

Usually, it takes years to design and produce bridges with complex shapes. Using 3D printing can reduce the time it takes to build a bridge, and the bridge itself may be more interesting in terms of design. The Dutch company mx3d is famous for its 3D printing Bridge project. It took the team less than a year to produce a steel bridge. It has an incredible design, with a total length of 12.5 meters and a maximum width of 6.3 meters! The construction has gone through many iterations. One reason is to better protect the bridge from potential ship collisions. After the final installation of the bridge, it is necessary to track the operation of the bridge. This is due to the many sensors installed throughout the process, which collect real-time data to ensure good bridge performance.

3D printing Bridge jemert, the Netherlands

Tu / E 3D printing Bridge.

The world's first 3D printing Bridge is from the Netherlands, designed by the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU / E). It's printed in reinforced prestressed concrete, but the real innovation is something inside. Concrete 3D printers used to build bridges integrate steel wires into the layers as they print. The 8-meter-high bridge is divided into several parts and connected together at the Gemert site where the bridge was installed. The construction process took three months, faster and more efficient than the standard method of producing concrete bridges. One of the advantages of 3D printing bridges is that much less concrete is required than traditional techniques for filling molds. The printer only places concrete where it is needed. " The end result is that it can support five tons, more than a cyclist's bridge needs.

3D printing Bridge arcovindas, Spain

IAAC 3D printing Bridge.

Spain built its first 3D printing Bridge in 2018. The design of the project is led by the Institute of advanced architecture in Catalonia (IAAC) and executed by Acciona. The bridge is 12 meters long and 1.75 meters wide. It has additional non 3D printing fences inside. The design objective of the bridge is to use as few materials as possible, but to achieve maximum structural performance. The bridge was printed on a concrete 3D printer using reinforced concrete, and the project took a year and a half from concept sketches to bridge installation. IAAC uses parametric design technology to integrate patterns in nature. In this way, the team was able to produce a fully functional footbridge with the best distribution of materials.

Sources from: https://creality3dpro.store/blogs/news