In May 2022, the new Sky Bridge footbridge opened in the Dolní Morava area (Czech Republic); it is the longest footbridge in the world, with a length of 2,365.49 ft. The design and construction of the footbridge were carried out by TAROS NOVA a.s., and the structural analysis was performed in RFEM 5.
The goal was to design a spiral staircase with glass steps and railings spanning 2 floors. With sophisticated anchoring details and helical stringers created from subtle rectangular hollow sections, a light and elegant staircase was formed. The interior spiral staircase is located inside the educational, training, and rehabilitation center in the city of Zlín.
For a project in Rotterdam, ADS Ertner used IDEA CONNECTION to analyze a structural steel connection. This program calculates steel connections utilizing the CBFEM method, where each thin-walled cross-section is modeled with nonlinear material properties, nonlinear bolts, and nonlinear welds. In order to transfer loads, ADS Ertner needed to use blocks in the connection model. In IDEA CONNECTION, blocks are not easily integrated with thin-walled plates.
In October 2011, the sailing ship "Alexander von Humboldt II" started service and has been conquering the seas ever since. The ship, operated by the German Sail Training Foundation (DSST), is a barque rigged with three masts. The masts and hull consist of steel.