Three students from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) designed a 36-meter-long bridge using asphalt from plastic waste as a mixed aggregate on road asphalt. The three students are Juan Fidel Ferdani (Civil Engineering 2019), Bayu Dewanto (Civil Engineering 2020), and Leonardo Dillon (Architecture 2020). The bridge with the Modified Bowstring Truss Bridge model is designed to connect two roads in Singapore.
Based on data from The National Environmental Agency in 2020, Singapore produces 868 tons of plastic waste. This figure makes Singapore’s plastic waste the third largest waste generated in 2020. Unfortunately, only 36 tons of plastic waste can be recycled, or 4% of the total plastic waste produced. This certainly raises an urgent need in handling Singapore’s plastic waste.
“We are trying to help solve this problem by utilizing Singapore’s plastic waste as a mixed aggregate in asphalt in the bridge design we are making. The bridge we are designing will connect Commonwealth Avenue West and Holland Grove Drive/Holland Grove to cross the Ghim Moh Canal. It is hoped that in the future our designs can increase the value of plastic waste and reduce its environmental impact,” said Bayu.
Juan added, “The selection of the Modified Bowstring Truss Bridge with the Warren Pattern bridge model was chosen because this model is a combination of the Bowstring Truss on the upper edge of the beam and the Warren Pattern on the framework of the bridge structure. The Bowstring Truss is a curved bridge design, while the Warren Pattern is an equilateral triangle in the framework of the bridge structure. The Bowstring Truss is used because, in the curved bridge moment diagram, the greatest moment is in the middle. Meanwhile, the Warren Pattern is used so that the load can be spread evenly over several bridge segments and can improve the aesthetics of the bridge. With the combination of these two types, the bridge we designed is not only structurally strong but also aesthetically pleasing.”
There are four stages in the construction of the bridge designed by FTUI students, namely Site Preparation, Substructure Work, Upper Structure Work, and Finishing. The Site Preparation stage aims to prepare land for construction and landscape development plans, which consist of Site Layout Development, Site Safety Protection, Site Cleanup, and Site Investigations. The Substructure Work phase includes the construction of abutments and the erection of deep foundations along the bridge. To prevent disturbances in the surrounding environment, the foundation is erected using a hydraulic jacked-in piling machine. The Upper Structure Work phase includes the construction of bridges and connecting roads. The Finishing Stage is the final stage of completing the bridge to ensure that the bridge is in good condition and beautifies the bridge.
“In addition to being an international recognition for their achievements, these student innovations are also concrete proof of their dedication to finding sustainable solutions to environmental problems while improving the quality of infrastructure. This recognition is a testament to their excellence in applying technical knowledge and creative thinking to creating sustainable and effective solutions. This achievement shows the world how collaboration between science, technology, and environmental awareness can create a significant positive impact. We hope that this achievement will be an inspiration for other students to dare to innovate and achieve international recognition in their efforts to build a better future,” said the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, ST., M.Eng., IPU.
Thanks to the design of this bridge, the three students who are part of the Galanika Nawasena team won 3rd place in the prestigious international bridge design competition, the Nanyang Technology University Bridge Design Competition (NTU BDC) 2023. The FTUI team succeeded in eliminating more than a hundred teams from various countries in the competition. ended in early April 2023 then.
NTU BDC is an annual competition organized by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Nanyang Technological University. An international competition that focuses on the structural design and construction methods of bridges where engineering students, especially civil engineering, are challenged to design bridge structures directly and practices that are relevant to the industry. This year’s NTU BDC will continue to be held virtually since the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Bureau of Public Communications
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia