Make a Bridge Using Fusion 360 Generative Design

Hi, my name is Jesse Stevens and I am in 10th grade. I heard about Fusion 360 Generative Design with its topology optimization from my brother and I wanted to use this tool for my bridge project. I was thinking about putting the bridge on Salem pond in Utah. I wanted to replace the bridge with the bridge I designed with Generative Design.

• Fusion 360
• Fusion 360s Generative Design

First and foremost, I have to learn How to Use Generative Design. So I used this instruction in Autodesk and went through the steps.

I sketched out the dimensions, and I applied the constraints as needed. Then I extruded the bridge.

With the knowledge of how this works I am now ready, I then went into Generative Design. In Generative Design you have to pick which geometry is preserved and which is an obstacle geometry. I preserved the bridge and then I made the platforms at the end an obstacle geometry. Then I locked in place the two ends of the bridge. I did this so they wouldn't change in the Generative Design process. I also could specify the load it would carry. I specified the bridge to hold 500 lbs.

I then could let the generative design run. The way Generative Design works is that it designs multiple out comes with your specifications. After it was done I can pick out what I thought looks good.

The first run ended and I couldn't find a good bridge to use. I tried again and again. Using different modifications to the parameters in generative design. I made the bridge thicker so it could carry more weight. It still didn't work, so I tried a flat bridge. I failed again. With no thought to how to fix this, I tried again with my original design hoping this time it would succeed.

I finally succeeded! And I picked and took two bridges that were the best. I am still not sure why when I went back to the original design it worked. I could have changed something I didn't realize, or maybe the algorithms was just showing me different designs each time. Either way its time to choose the bridge that suits my needs.

And then I chose the final design that would be my bridge.

Now just 3D print it and your finished!