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The pedestrian bridge in Albstadt-Ebingen marks a new chapter in bridge construction: it is the first bridge in the world to be built entirely from carbon concrete – a true pioneering achievement that points the way toward the future of construction.
Spanning the Schmiecha stream in the center of Albstadt-Ebingen, the bridge was officially opened in October 2015. With a span of 15 meters and a slender cross-section, the structure blends harmoniously into its surroundings. This slim design was made possible through the use of our solidian GRID – a corrosion-resistant carbon grid reinforcement.
Special Features
Thanks to the excellent material properties of carbon concrete, conventional steel reinforcement could be completely eliminated. Carbon is not only lighter than steel but also significantly stronger and permanently resistant to corrosion. This allowed the concrete cover to be reduced to just 15 mm – resulting in an extremely lightweight yet robust construction with a total width of only 1.8 meters.
The surface was specially treated to ensure a slip-resistant texture. The maintenance-free nature of carbon concrete makes the structure especially economical over its entire life cycle.
- Reinforcement: solidian GRID Q85/85-CCE-2
- Project partners: Max Bögl, Knippers Helbig, TU Dresden
- Highlight: World’s first bridge fully reinforced with carbon
Proof of Performance
To validate the load-bearing capacity, a full-scale bridge prototype was tested under realistic conditions. The load-bearing capacity reached an impressive 62 tons – a value that even exceeded the calculated failure load of 60 tons. These tests clearly demonstrated the reliability of the structural calculations and the high performance of the material.
Architecture and Structural Design
The architectural design and structural planning were carried out by the renowned firm Knippers Helbig, who translated the possibilities of carbon concrete into a clear, minimalist design language. The bridge is not only functional but also serves as an architectural statement for a new generation of infrastructure.
Key facts
| Application | Bridges |
| Products used | |
| Year | 2015 |
| Location | Germany |
| Project | Bridge made out of pure carbon concrete |
Sustainability
The design of the pedestrian bridge is not only technologically remarkable but also offers significant ecological advantages. Compared to conventional steel-reinforced structures, the bridge reduces primary energy consumption by approximately 50% and lowers CO₂ emissions by 30%.
These savings were validated through a life cycle assessment conducted by LCEE Life Cycle Engineering Experts GmbH. The results show a CO₂-equivalent reduction of around 170 kg per square meter, amounting to a total saving of approximately 7.5 tons of CO₂ equivalent for the entire structure.
Through the targeted use of only 190 kg of carbon reinforcement, the following materials and resources were additionally saved:
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approx. 21,000 kg of sand and gravel
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4,000 liters of water
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1,500 kg of steel
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7,500 kg of cement
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9,000 kg of asphalt
These impressive figures highlight the potential of carbon concrete for resource-efficient and environmentally friendly construction – a milestone on the path toward sustainable infrastructure.
Award
For this innovative construction method, the project was honored with the 2016 Innovation Award of the Concrete Components Supply Industry – a recognition of the forward-looking development and execution of this pilot project.
Significance for the Future
The Albstadt-Ebingen pedestrian bridge serves as a groundbreaking reference project for the use of textile and carbon concrete in bridge construction. It demonstrates how innovative materials can deliver not only technical and aesthetic benefits, but also ecological advantages. The minimal material usage, long service life, and virtually maintenance-free operation make the bridge a model for sustainable infrastructure development.
