A 29-meter-long 3D printed bridge is under construction in the Netherlands

The world's longest 3D printed pedestrian concrete bridge is currently under construction in the Netherlands. The structure will be placed in the city of Nijmegen, one of Holland’s oldest cities.

The project, named “Bridge Project”, is a groundbreaking collaborative effort between Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), Studio michiel van der kley, and the Eindhoven University of Technology. The project team aims to produce an innovative solution that will set an example of a new era in the building industry. Construction of the bridge continues at the 3D printing facility of Weber Beamix and Royal BAM Group in Eindhoven.

3D printing process (right) and developed 3D-printed shaped of the “Bridge Project” structure (right) (credits: Studio michiel van der kley)

The 3D printing technique will inevitably change the client – designer – engineer – contractor dynamics as it provides a much broader design freedom and enables the development of much larger structures. Contrary to the engineering practice of the past several millennia, 3D printing constructions are not developed with the aid of molds, which despite their inexpensiveness, they are partly responsible for an architectural uniformity. The 3D printing technique positions materials in thin strips layer by layer, and therefore the use of a mold isn't required. Moreover, 3D printing allows objects to be constructed piece by piece and then assembled, thus allowing for non-uniformity of shapes.

Nonetheless, 3D printing techniques also bring with them new and unique challenges that need to be addressed before the construction method becomes widely accepted. More specifically, the structural engineering consulting firm Summum Engineering tried to assess the challenges presented by the "Bridge Project"  by developing well-parameterized models of the final structure. Based on their analysis, the generated structural model is in line with structural constraints and specifications set by  the project's engineers  and Eindhoven University of Technology.

Projects like the “Bridge Project” further indicate that the future may include a radical revolution in manufacturing and construction methods.