Critical Practices › 2022 › Physical Model: Goian-Cerveira Footbridge

Physical Model: Goian-Cerveira Footbridge over the Miño River, Spain – Portugal

This critical practice presents the experience of physical model development during the design phase of an innovative structure. It shows synergy between design and physical models, that improves the understanding of the structure behavior. As a complement to this critical practice, the research paper “Design process: Goian-Cerveira footbridge over the Miño River, Spain-Portugal” presents the design process and configuration of this innovative structure. The construction of physical models allows to understand the structural scheme and to test different configurations. Mola Structural Model was used as a design tool through an online collaboration between Spain and Brazil. Mola is an interactive physical model that simulates structures behavior. The model consists of a set of modular pieces connected through magnets. It provides a sensory experience, simulating the behavior of the footbridge in a tactile and visual way. Physical models contribute to improve the understanding of structures, actively assisting the design process.

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Contributors

M.S. de Oliveira
A.B. Larena
J.G. Mateo
J.B. Larena

Mola Structural Model, Technical University of Madrid & Bernabeu Ingenieros
Brazil & Spain

Presented at ICSA2022, Aalborg University. Critical Practices 2022 booklet (PDF)