Blok hopes that this bridge will show the potential of biocomposite as a sustainable alternative for existing environmentally harmful construction materials.
“Using biocomposite in constructions reduces our dependence on finite fossil resources and brings us a step closer to the circular economy in which products and resources are reused,” said Blok. “In time, I expect that we will see more of these materials in our buildings.”
Another project leader, Patrick Teuffel, says the bridge is expected to have a lifespan of two years at the very least, but that it may be difficult to estimate beyond that. To help provide insight on how the bridge performers, 28 sensors have been embedded in the bridge that will be used to measure strain and bending. This data will be relayed to the project team in real-time and data on factors like temperature, moisture and UV light exposure will also be monitored.
