Welcome to the OSU Steel Bridge Team website! We are looking forward to an exciting 2006 season. Each year, we build a replica steel bridge in accordance with rules and specifications from the American Institute of Steel Construction and compete with other civil engineering schools from around the region and the nation. This team is completely funded by corporate donations. We carry out all phases of construction, from design to fabrication. The design of the steel bridge is done using AutoCAD and also computer simulated loading programs. This portion is done in the fall semester. The fabrication process is carried out by OSU students and is done in the spring semester. Fabrication includes milling, welding, lathing, and other procedures. This is done in the engineering laboratories at OSU. We have had exciting seasons in the past.
Last year at regional competition in Edwardsville, Illinois, the OSU Steel Bridge placed 1st overall, and was the winner in three of the four subcategories based on the bridge's performance (there was also an aesthetics award, which went to another institution). The success was achieved mostly through the ingenious space-truss design compliments of team member David Erickson. While the bridge took countless man-hours to construct, the long hours proved well worth it as OSU had a chance to travel to Orlando, Florida in May to compete in Nationals. The team was able to modify the bridge prior to nationals to increase its competitiveness, and we were able to achieve 11th place out of a total of 44 teams. Our team record, set by the previous year's bridge, is 6th place.
This year, Regional competition will be at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri and National competition will be in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by the University of Utah. Unfortunately, a number of circumstances beyond our control have arisen that will prevent OSU from competing this year. We expect to return for the 2006-2007 season.
Scoring - The bridge is scored in 2 categories:
1. Construction Cost - The maximum size for any piece of the bridge is 6”x6”x42”. The construction team assembles these pieces as fast as they can into the full, 21 foot span. The time it takes to construct multiplied by the number of people building is your score in man-minutes. Each man-minute is worth $50,000.
2. Structural Efficiency – We will load the assembled bridge with 2,500 lbs. and measure deflection (how much the bridge sags). The bridge's self-weight is multiplied by the number of inches of deflection. Each inch-pound is worth $20,000.
These two dollar amounts are added to get a total bridge cost. The lowest cost wins.
2004-2005 Steel Bridge Pictures:
REGIONALS:
HOST SCHOOL: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY EDWARDSVILLE
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NATIONALS:
HOST SCHOOL: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (ORLANDO)
2005-2006 Competitions:
2006 Regional Competition: April 26-29, 2006, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
2006 National Competition: May 26-28, 2006, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
For more information contact Rick Glende.
Visit the National Student Steel Bridge Competition page here!
Last Updated: April 28, 2006, 09:58 CDT.
