Pilot research, July – September 2015
In this design exercise, bending moment free and static equilibrium are kept as the design principles. Furthermore, the idea of automatic assembling is introduced. It would be quite challenging to allow assembled pieces spanning a certain distance. I tried to design a joint can easily be assembled by a crane.
The prefabricated components have specially designed interface, which will guide the component into the desired position when crane, drone or robotic arm lowering the component. Therefore, a cantilever structure can be extended to span a longer distance.
Starting with the joint and combining the bending moment free and static equilibrium principle, I try to build an arch bridge. In the building process, two cantilevers will be closed in the middle become an arch after them launching from two sides of an obstetrical.
A curved arch bridge is designed and selected to test the degree of freedom of this fabrication and assembling approach.
A simplified version with only four nodes for the deck, illustrating how the 3D form (left) and forces (right) are related to each other. The thickness of a member is proportional to the axial force it takes, with blue indicating compression and red tension.
A video demonstrating the envisioned assembly sequence.
ChiangYC 