Other denominations
Pont Hennebique
Original use
Transportation and infrastructure/bridge
Current use
Transportation and infrastructure/bridge
Engineers
François Hennebique
Others
Société de fondation par compression mécanique du sol (Contractor)
Concrete by reinforcement
Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong in compression but less so in tension.
To increase its overall strength, steel rods, wires, mesh or cables may be embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement, often known as rebar, resists tensile forces. By forming a strong bond, the two materials are able to resist a variety of applied forces, effectively acting as a single structural element .
Construction method
In this case, the concrete can be made by mixing the components directly on site, or it may be transported from a production plant in concrete-mixer trucks.
This method has the disadvantage of leaving the concrete exposed to the elements while it is setting. Whereas, with other methods, the environmental conditions can be controlled during setting, providing greater control over the outcome, with cast-in-place concrete a series of tests and protocols are necessary to verify its final strength.
Architectural concrete
- textured walls
- wooden formwork finish
- stamped concrete
- exposed aggregate concrete, colored concrete, etc.
Structural types
State of Conservation
Description
The Mativa Footbridge was built over the Meuse River for the Liege World’s Fair in 1905 to connect the city to the island where the fairgrounds were located, now known as Parc de la Boverie.
The footbridge was innovative for its time, using unmistakably modern forms. It covers a distance of 80 meters, with a central arch that spans 50 meters. It was built as an example to showcase the possibilities of a new material – reinforced concrete – which allowed for much slimmer structures than had ever been seen before.
The footbridge became a further attraction at the Fair, putting on a public display of its stability as it was crossed by 450 horsemen at a gallop or a marching infantry battalion.
François Hennebique, a self-taught architect, engineer and builder, was a key figure in the development of the reinforced concrete industry at the end of the 19th century. His contributions to the understanding of the structural behavior of metal reinforcements were especially influential. He developed and patented a reinforced concrete construction system that was used in more than 7,000 buildings from 1892 to 1902. A years later, in 1903, his patent was rejected in favor of another that had been presented earlier by another pioneer in the history of concrete, Joseph Monier.
Belgium
Passerelle Mativa, between Quai Mativa and Parc de la Boverie
Région wallonne (Wallonia region). Liège (province) 4020 Liège
Commission
1904
Completion
1905