TRIANGLE RECIPROCAL STRUCTURE

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During the first week, experiments around the triangle and the Leonardo da Vinci bridge were made, with different shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and different assemblies such as notches, nails, joints, etc. The purpose of the first bridge was to create two arches composed of isosceles triangles and to mirror them to make the bridge more stable. In order to build the bridge, we optimized it by having two connected reciprocal structures (making the bridge more stable and blocking the horizontal movement). The bridge deck is created by the space between them. It’s placed on wooden beams that transfer the loads to the structure. Each triangular element rests on the one before and the one after. This disposition generates an arch structure system that transfers loads through interconnected components. A wooden shim is placed to fill the empty space between two triangles. The isosceles triangle elements are made of two four meter beams and a one-meter beam. They are fixed together using a metallic element placed on each corner. There are five triangular components.

DOMESTICAL WILDNESS

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We conceived a bridge that reunites the similar characteristics of our initial bridges we designed in the first week: superposition, frame, and regularity. Our desire was to complexify the project, so we built up a frame that highlights irregularity though well thought out and structurally viable. The main load bearing elements of the bridge are two irregular trusses. The diagonals of each truss are composed of two groups of elements which lean towards each other. Their superposition offers a random appearance of the project. With the help of Karamba, we created a parametric algorithm to obtain a visually random model but with an optimal structure. The project evolved all week long thanks to the simulations of the bridge deformations and also due to the creation of 1:10 models. Indeed, we improved the bridge structure to the maximum. To bring an additional factor to the design, the deck of the bridge is independent from the structure of the side trusses and varies its heights at specific points.All of this allowed us to create a new space easily appropriable for everyone.

HYPERBOLIC PARALOID

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The hyperbolic paraboloid presents a simplicity and a lightness in its geometric logic. The idea was to use this double curved geometry to create a bridge integrating both convex and concave curves. The final structure in fact is an asymmetric stretched hyperbolic paraboloid. In order to build it, we first thought of assembling the grid in plan, and then lifting up the edges, thus creating an arch. Each intersection would be bolted, allowing twisting of the beams during the process of the transforming it to its final shape. The bolts would afterwards be tightened. The structure was be kept in the final position by cables connecting the bottom extremities of the bridge and other cables blocking the deformation of the frames along the top curve. Alternatively the method that proved to be more successful was to mount the frames at an angle, and then bolt the diagonal beams to it, and finally bolt each intersection together.

FOLDING BRIDGE

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Here we were trying to associate the flexibility of a folding structure and the stability of a bridge. A physical model work at scale 1:10 allowed us to manipulate and evaluate the structure in realilty. Thus, with the help of Rhino and Grasshopper, we optimized it in order to reduce dimensions of the folded bridge and minimize the quantity of wood. This principle was also a structural solution as the members closer to the supports are larger than those in the center and insure the stability of the bridge. When the structure is deployed, a movable wooden beam can be fixed to the structure which blocks any relative movement of the parts. Therefore the bridge is totally retractable and can be quickly set up in several environments.

STARKING

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​For our bridge we have multiplied identical modules to create an arch. Each module is composed of sloped beams 12 cm high that lean on the horizontal beams of height 9 cm, creating an angle between separate parts. Each module leans on the 1/3 of the other’s length. The bearing load is transferred along the structure to the supports. The spacing elements are placed between the modules to minimize deflection. The joints are organized in a way as to prevent horizontal sliding of the beams and to give the structure a stability.