Reflection on sustainability in civil engineering – investigation of the potential of numerical topology optimization

Abstract The transformation of the building sector towards sustainability is one of the key engineering challenges of this century. Bridge design is a typical task in civil engineering, the high material usage in combination with the considerable costruction effort makes their longevity a strongly desirable property. A mechanically efficient design contributes to optimum load distribution within the structure. Numerical topology optimization is a valuable tool that can be applied for form finding of load-appropriate structural layouts within a predefined design-space. This study takes the design of a mechanically efficient bridge into focus, that can be manufactured on a model scale using the resource-saving methods from additive manufacturing (AM). The considerations on mechanical optimality, that are included in the layout of the bridge and its components, are presented to demonstrate a perspective for sustainable design in civil engineering.