Bio-inspired Bridge Design - Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering - page 238

Fig. 10.6 The solar panel on Blackfriars bridge (Hu et al. 2013 )

should not only be embodied in the period of construction, but also be extended to
the whole life cycle. Photovoltaic solar panels for example could be installed on
the bridge so that it could provide sustainable electricity for any use. The reno-
vation project of the Blackfriars Bridge over the Thames River led this old bridge
to a very notable landmark as shown in Fig. 10.6 .
The power produced by the photovoltaic panels on the roof can support
Blackfriars station's overall power requirement. The critical issue for developing
future bridges is how to make best use of natural energy. Future proposals have
taken the sustainable issue into account. Wilkinson Eyre Architects proposed a
botanic bridge in 2002 at the gateway to the University of Newcastle, which pro-
vides an ecological space above the bridge, as shown in Fig. 10.7 a. Bridge struc-
tures are built to minimize material use and recycled natural resources.
Figure 10.7 b shows an interesting proposal about the installation of wind turbines
between the bridge piers for some heavy wind locations. It is noted that future
bridges may also have multifunctional features on energy issues, not only for
energy use but also for energy harvesting, energy absorption, and energy storage.
The design of such smart structures will require a higher level inspiration that
designs the structure in a more comprehensive way.

10.2.2 Moveable Forms

Compared to most stationary forms, another interesting bridge design problem,
moveable form, can also be inspired from the kinetic mechanisms in nature.
Movable bridges represent an economical way for traffic to cross an active
waterway granting passage with little vertical clearance. Wallner and Pircher
( 2007 ) summarized three prevailing structural systems of moveable bridges such
as bascule, swing, and lift bridges. Those examples of movable bridge in all types,
in fact, represent not only a unique mechanism, but also a self-adapting way to the