As sponsors of the Pedestrian Bridges category in this year’s Institution of Structural Engineer’s 2016 Structural Awards we were particularly pleased that the judges chose a project designed using Oasys GSA software.
The Elizabeth Quay Bridge in Perth, Australia is part of a bold plan to revitalise the city centre, returning its focus to the Swan River and providing a world-class waterfront destination. GSA was used for form finding, to predict footfall-induced vibration and to work powerfully and flexibly alongside parametric modelling software that maintained consistent relationships between elements as a complex and innovative model was manipulated.
Award Winning Design
The striking 22m high, 110m cable-stayed bridge is the project’s centrepiece feature. Two 45m spans connect in the middle, with the bridge’s arches sweeping down towards the water to rest on concrete piers supported on piles socketed into the rock bed. The curved form for the bridge deck allowed for extended, gently-sloping pedestrian ramps to clear the navigation channel which required a mean clearance of 5.2m.
The design excellence has resulted in a 110m bridge that responses exceptionally to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority’s ore brief of an iconic structure that is timeless and refined in its simplicity. The Elizabeth Quay Bridge was awarded an Engineers Australia Award for Excellence 2016 (Buildings and Structures) and an Australian Steel Institute, Steel Excellence Award 2016 (Engineering Projects).
Pictured with members of the winning design team are IStructE President Alan Crossman (2nd left), Awards compere and BBC News correspondent Clive Myrie (far right) and Oasys Application Specialist Prof. Peter Debney (2nd right)