Witteveen Bos senior design lead Wouter Claasen discusses the adoption of alternative materials, including bio-based composites, for bridges.
For over 10 years, research has been conducted on the feasibility of using flax fibers for bridges. This research has already yielded results, with the construction of the first bio-epoxy composite movable bridge in Ritsumasyl in 2020, as well as the first bio-polyester composite bridge in Almere. These innovative bridge designs showcase the potential applications of bio-composites in civil engineering. What does the future hold for this new material, and what possibilities does it offer?