UK-based architect Margot Krasojevic is renowned for experimental designs, but her recent dragonfly bridge will soon be reality; Ordos City government in Inner Mongolia has commissioned her design to cross the Wulan Mulun River. Not only does the bridge look futuristic but it also walks the walk – able to fold upon itself and is relocatable and adaptable dependent on its environment. This means the pedestrian bridge could be moved up and down a river, either towed or through its own sail. “The revolving sail bridge tries to define a new typology for a bridge, which synthesises movement and flexibility like a yacht,” she was reported as saying. Three expanding walkways stretch from the main floating section and also support a carbon fibre sail; capable of folding into stackable, foldable sections while a hydraulic second structure has an additional walkway. Caisson foundation can be used to obtain a permanent position if required. To ensure stability, screw-in mooring and nineton anchors prevent the bridge drifting. The hydraulic walkway is supported by the river bank's landing docks while the main body of the bridge is kept afloat by the sail and its rotator. Sails are made of lightweight aluminium frame, clad in a carbon fibre reinforced polymer that are suspended from a hydraulically-operated rotating Mobius ballast chamber. This rotates and fills with water in order to revolve the sail and relocate the bridge. An additional four air-filled tank add the buoyancy required when the sales are in use. The rotating Mobius element is made from lightweight aluminium enveloped in stabiliser fins and photovoltaic cells which power the thruster. An array of cylindrical crossflow turbines skim the water's surface. The walkway is lined with solar panels which charge three electric motor generators. www.engineeringnews.co.nz 19
ENsep17-eMag
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