A team of engineers in National Taiwan University of Science and Technology’s Construction Engineering Department has successfully designed a bridge made entirely out of Bristol boards and resin that can withstand the weight of an adult on a motorcycle.
In testing, the rider and bike, weighing a combined total of roughly 300 kilograms, crossed the 2.4-meter long, 1-meter wide bridge without causing the least bit of damage to the paper bridge’s structural integrity.
Associate Professor Huang Ching-tung, a member of the engineering team made up of students and faculty, said they primarily used a “lattice beam” structure in constructing the bridge.
Huang pointed out that such a structure is suitable for large-span frames, does not require additional support and can maintain a definite level of strength. He added that it is often seen in architectural structures such as auditoriums, music halls and movie theaters.
The 18-member team spent a month working on the bridge, beginning with making a model and then carrying out load capacity assessments.
Student Hsu Che-wei, the lead designer on the team, said they began by using 30 pieces of Bristol board to build lattice units with 14 columns lengthwise and 25 columns across into a network. They then duplicated the lattice units and piled them together to create a sturdy structure.
The most notable aspect of the design is that no nails or other building materials were used to reinforce the bridge’s structure.
In the original design, the team added several pillars at the bottom of the bridge. They later removed the pillars to determine whether the bridge would still be strong enough to support a motorcycle and its rider, and it was.
Huang said that in theory, the bridge made with just Bristol boards and resin and without the pillars could support up to 600 kilograms of weight. (SB)