Closing the gap towards super-long suspension bridges using computational morphogenesis

Mads Baandrup (), Ole Sigmund, Henrik Polk and Niels Aage ()
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Mads Baandrup: Technical University of Denmark, Brovej
Ole Sigmund: Technical University of Denmark, Nils Koppels Allé
Henrik Polk: COWI A/S
Niels Aage: Technical University of Denmark, Nils Koppels Allé

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Girder design for suspension bridges has remained largely unchanged for the past 60 years. However, for future super-long bridges, aiming at record-breaking spans beyond 3 km, the girder weight is a limiting factor. Here we report on a design concept, inspired by computational morphogenesis procedures, demonstrating possible weight savings in excess of 28 percent while maintaining manufacturability. Although morphogenesis procedures are rarely used in civil engineering, often due to complicated designs, we demonstrate that even a crude extraction of the main features of the optimized design, followed by a simple parametric optimization, results in hitherto unseen weight reductions. We expect that further studies of the proposed design, as well as applications to other structures, will lead to even greater weight savings and reductions in carbon footprint in a construction industry, currently responsible for 39 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16599-6

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