The world’s first 3D-Printed bridge has been installed in Amsterdam. The bridge was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. It will be the first bridge to be used in the testing of 3D-Printed Steel and how they fair against regular use.
The bridge was fitted with all kinds of sensors that will detect the foot traffic on the bridge. The bridge has a digital twin that will imitate the wear on the physical one in real time. They are going to use this data for future 3D-Printed steel structures.
The Imperial College of London contributor Professor Leroy Gardner of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering had this to say of the news:
“A 3D-printed metal structure large and strong enough to handle pedestrian traffic has never been constructed before. We have tested and simulated the structure and its components throughout the printing process and upon its completion, and it’s fantastic to see it finally open to the public.”
The bridge was engineered by MX3D and spans the Oudezijds Achterburgwal canal. It’s a 12-meter long pedestrian footbridge and made of 4.5 tons of stainless steel. If this turns out to be a viable solution for bridge building it could set an entirely new precedent for how they are built.
