Load Capacity with Bioinspired Structural Forms in Lightweight Bridge Components: Lifecycle Assessment

Abstract

The integration of bioinspired structural forms into civil infrastructure offers a profound opportunity to enhance material efficiency and mechanical performance. This paper investigates the methodology of predicting the load capacity of lightweight bridge components that utilize bioinspired geometries, specifically those mimicking trabecular bone and hierarchical leaf venation. By coupling structural performance prediction with Lifecycle Assessment, this research provides a comprehensive evaluation framework that balances mechanical integrity with environmental sustainability. Through extensive modeling and simulation, morphological traits derived from biological systems were translated into parametric structural components. These components were subsequently evaluated for ultimate load capacity under various stress states using advanced predictive algorithms based entirely on material property descriptors and geometric parameters. Simultaneously, a rigorous Lifecycle Assessment was conducted to quantify the embodied energy, carbon footprint, and resource depletion associated with the manufacturing and deployment of these novel structures. The findings demonstrate that bioinspired components not only meet the rigorous load capacity requirements of lightweight bridge systems but also significantly reduce the lifecycle environmental impacts compared to traditional monolithic designs. This synergy between biomimetic structural engineering and environmental assessment establishes a new paradigm for the development of sustainable, high-performance transport infrastructure.