Bio-based composite footbridge

This paper deals with the design, production and monitoring of a bio-composite footbridge with a span of 14 meters across the river Dommel in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The specific bio-composite material that was used for this research is a Natural-Fibre Reinforced Bio-Polymer (NFRBP). The goal of the research is to prove that NFRBP can be applied as a load bearing structure in an outdoor environment. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary team of academic researchers from two universities, together with a manufacturer from the NFRBP industry and the Centre of Expertise Biobased Economy (CoEBBE), developed a feasible design that could be produced by unskilled hands in a short period of time and within a limited budget. The footbridge was designed, built and installed within less than one year. In the two years after the installation of the footbridge, the structural behaviour of the bridge was monitored by means of optical fibre glass strands, integrated within the structure, with the purpose of measuring deformations and change in elasticity that occur over time

Cast Formwork System: customised self-construction for local informal conditions

CAST Formwork Systems (CFS) is a concrete formwork system based on CNC milling technology. It enables self-construction in informal areas to build up safe, incremental housing up to four storeys high. Ordinary formwork systems are complex to use, often too expensive for the low- to mid-low income group and only suited to one shape of building plot. The CFS-system is not only cheaper, it can be customized to all shapes of building-plots and is both safe and easier in use

Bio-based construction materials for a sustainable future

The structural engineering community has a strong responsibility to contribute to a more efficient use of natural resources. Nowadays the construction industry is by far the most resource intense industry sector, approximately 40-50% of all primary raw materials are used, which raises the question about the architects and engineer’s accountability. In this context and as a result of the Paris Climate agreement the Dutch government defined the program “Nederland Circulair in 2050”, which states the ambition to use 50% less primary materials in 2030 and to have a full circular economy in 2050.One possible approach to achieve these ambitious goals is the application of renewable, bio-based materials in the built environment and to replace traditional, typically cement-based, materials. Already in the past natural building materials, such as timber and bamboo have been used widely, but in recent years new materials came up and provide new opportunities to be used in the construction industry. The authors explored various alternatives, such as hemp and flax fibres, mycelium and lignin-based fibres for composite materials, which will be described with various experimental and realised case studies

Cast Formwork System: customised self-construction for local informal conditions

CAST Formwork Systems (CFS) is a concrete formwork system based on CNC milling technology. It enables self-construction in informal areas to build up safe, incremental housing up to four storeys high. Ordinary formwork systems are complex to use, often too expensive for the low- to mid-low income group and only suited to one shape of building plot. The CFS-system is not only cheaper, it can be customized to all shapes of building-plots and is both safe and easier in use

Bio based bridge: primary structural elements

The project aims to design, produce and realise a small, but fully bio-based composite pedestrian bridge at the campus of TU/e. So far, few bio-based building projects have been realised world-wide, but they focussed either on non-structural elements or they partially used building materials based on fossil materials. The application of bio-based materials in the built environment is an extremely promising approach towards a more circular economy and a sustainable environment, which is one of the National Science Agenda’s themes: “Energy and raw materials: Circular economy”. Recent developments have shown that bio-based materials can provide a useful approach for recyclable objects. Until now, fully bio-based primary structural elements have not been used and the applications are limited to experiments with facades components. Building industry clients are generally hesitant to put new technologies into practice without a proof of concept and therefore this pedestrian bridge is a big step forward

Bio based bridge: primary structural elements

The project aims to design, produce and realise a small, but fully bio-based composite pedestrian bridge at the campus of TU/e. So far, few bio-based building projects have been realised world-wide, but they focussed either on non-structural elements or they partially used building materials based on fossil materials. The application of bio-based materials in the built environment is an extremely promising approach towards a more circular economy and a sustainable environment, which is one of the National Science Agenda’s themes: “Energy and raw materials: Circular economy”. Recent developments have shown that bio-based materials can provide a useful approach for recyclable objects. Until now, fully bio-based primary structural elements have not been used and the applications are limited to experiments with facades components. Building industry clients are generally hesitant to put new technologies into practice without a proof of concept and therefore this pedestrian bridge is a big step forward