How would I model this bridge?

tallbridgeguy

This the new Calgary Peace pedestrian bridge by Santiago Calatrava. It is scheduled to open this summer.
How would I model something like this?

Thanks for the help!

S

The video is also cool and well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HvaOo0wtL4

Jim

That reminded me of this tutorial: Modeling a Carbon Nanotube

numbthumb

TIG´s Lattice Maker? http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=28223&hilit=plugin

pilou

Four seasons

jeff hammond

there's a lot more to it than what i've shown but here's a rough idea to get started with the skeleton..

it seems like a sweet bridge to draw but it's going to be a lot more work than i've shown here and/or have time to commit right now.

bridge_shell_rough.skp
[edit -- oops.. the step that says 'note side extension' --- the first part of that step is to push/pull the 1/2 cylinder up which surfaces everything.. then the middle faces are just selected/deleted.]

good luck

tallbridgeguy

Thanks, I will take a look at both threads!

The first video link is kinda choppy. Here is a slightly lower grade but more watchable version of the video.

s

tallbridgeguy

Wow, thanks for the file Jeff!

I doubt I would have thought of doing it that way. (I probably would draw a cylinder and try to draw on the surface.)

Thanks!

S

jeff hammond

i went ahead and modeled a lot more of this thing today.. i have a modified version as well which has a slight arch when assembled but i figure since i'm going to upload it here, i'll provide the straight version in case someone newer to sketchup wants to move all the pieces around and see how components etc. work without the need to align little angles..

still missing some details (and i just made up some of the details in this version) but i'm over it

footbridge_jh.skp

click pic for bigger

pilou

Cool adaptation

tallbridgeguy

Wow!

The downside is now I feel pretty inferior!

s

jeff hammond

@tallbridgeguy said:

Wow!

The downside is now I feel pretty inferior!

s

nah.. most of it is pretty straightforward modeling.. the two things that took a little figuring out was how to get the cutout squares on the cylinder to have rounded corners and how to make the beaded edge on the ends where the cylinder is cut off..

i came up with some pretty simple solutions for both so if you have any problems modeling those parts, i'll give you some ideas on how to handle it..

tallbridgeguy

Thanks Jeff!