Intercollegiate Competitions

Steel Bridge 2012

In April of 2012, a group of Bucknell Civil Engineers participated in the Mid-Atlantic Steel Bridge Competition at Lafayette College.

Background

Bucknell's participation in the Steel Bridge Competition was the first since 1995, nearly a 15 year hiatus. This year, the regional competition was held at Lafayette College. Bucknell's Bridge Team was one of eleven that competed in the region for a chance to move on to nationals which were to be held at Clemson University. Some of the schools in the competition included Penn State, The University of Delaware, Drexel, Temple, Widener and Lafayette.

Problem Statement

Each year the steel bridge committee publishes a new set of rules, regulations, and guidelines for the competition. The team's task was to design and fabricate a bridge that would support a randomly patterned 2,500-pound load over a span of approximately 22 feet. The bridge, which must be less than five feet tall, is fabricated in sections and assembled during timed constructions during the competition. Teams are judged on construction speed, bridge weight, stiffness, lateral integrity, and aesthetics.