The first reinforced 3D-printed footbridge was constructed in Norflok

At the Constructionarium site in Norfolk, Minimass a start-up construction company had completed the first 3D-printed footbridge featuring two 10.8-meter Minimass beams. Τhe deck and the parapets of the bridge were made of Scottish glulam timber. This project marks a new era in the construction field according to a Minimass spokesman, as it paves the way for constructing low carbon footbridges with 3D-printed reinforced concrete.

The revolution of this project was that they managed to surpass the main hazard with 3D-printed structures as the footbridge needed to be reinforced to compile with Eurocode 2 and standards. The construction company integrated reinforcement to the structure, marking the footbridge as the first reinforced 3D-printed bridge.

They succeeded in reinforcement as they managed to design the bridge using concrete only where was necessary for the structure to bear compression and steel where tension was needed. Also, they designed the bridge to be easily disassembled. As they combined all those features, they managed to minimize material waste contributing to the global effort of minimizing eco-footprint.

Moreover, the company explained that they created rectangular beams because it was easier to cast them in rectangular molds. Their decision to make concrete trusses minimized the supply costs by 40%, while they reduced embodied carbon by 30% compared to traditional steel or concrete footbridges, excluding foundations and preliminary costs. 

In addition, Minimass will monitor the structure for the next six months to assess its performance, while data on strain and temperature will be collected to monitor the evolution of concrete strength and creep over time.

In all, despite the revolutionary idea of this project, Minimass had to overcome many obstacles until the completion of the bridge as they couldn’t bring their product to the market. The constructors refused to contribute to the construction as they were facing design risks, procurement risks and concerns over warranties and insurance because the company hadn’t any data that would prove the lifetime of the structure as it was the first of its kind.

However, their idea received support through an Innovate UK Net Zero pre-commercialization grant, which provided funding and helped them launch it at Constructionarium. Finally, as the company stated, once testing on the bridge is complete, the structure will be donated to Constructionarium to become part of its project showcase.