Form & Function
The Beauty Found In Form Is Derived From It's Function
The projects design is a bridge that has the ability to let ships (30'x 40") pass through. Prototypes were created using existing bridges in combination with everyday artifacts taking inspiration from their respective movement mechanisms. The Final bridge design came about after many iterations and achieved its form from the need of the function.
Prototypes
These are the three bridges IÂ used in combination with the movement mechanisms prior to any change in form.
Cantilever Bridge
Cable-Stayed Bridge
Arch Style Bridge
Artifacts
These are the everyday items with a movement mechanism that were implemented into the three prototype bridges.
The artifacts chosen in descending order are as follows a pot-holder (using a double hinged compressible lever), an old jar opener (using a rack & pinion gear system), and lastly a wine corkscrew (using a helical screw & lift system). In order to simplify their movements the artifacts were converted to reductive diagrams.
Design Criteria
Pedestrian Bridge
Physically Handicapped Accessible
No Slope Greater Than 1:12
Span = 190'
Width = 12'
Clearance = 40'
Maximum Tower Height = 100'
No Structural Members Longer Than 20'
Members = 1'x 1'
Conceptual Combinations
The conceptual design process combined the prototype bridges and the artifact's mechanisms in various orientations. Using the reductive diagrams of the mechanisms and by following the design criteria, the bridges structural forms were altered to accommodate the 30' x 40' opening of the road bed. Using the table method I constructed (2) 3 x 3 tables to get 18 possible solutions.
Preliminary Design
After analyzing all eighteen possible solutions from the 3 x 3 tables, one combination had the most potential. The chosen one seemed to have a more obscure solution that would require the most alteration to it's form to accommodate the movement analogy.
​
The arch-style bridge was combined with the rack & pinion gear system, driven by a belt & roller system to turn the gears and retract the suspension cables attached to the moveable road-bed/structure.
After several alterations to the original bridges form, using subtractive/additive & mass/void transformations to accomodate the function the final design was developed.
​
The structure of the Arch needed to change shape to meet the opening requirement.
The mechanism needed to be incorporated into the Arch & tower for support and guidance without interferance of it's structure.
