Design and Production of a Steel Bridge Utilizing Innovative Connections and Fabrication Techniques

Poster Number

19

Lead Author Major

Civil Engineering

Format

Poster Presentation

Faculty Mentor Name

Luke Lee

Faculty Mentor Department

Civil Engineering

Additional Faculty Mentor Name

Gary Litton

Additional Faculty Mentor Name

Scott Merry

Abstract/Artist Statement

The Pacific Steel Bridge Team was tasked to design, fabricate, and construct a 23 ft model steel bridge to compete in the 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers Mid-Pacific Conference. A team of students ranging from freshmen to seniors used their skills, ingenuity and knowledge developed from fundamental engineering courses to produce a design in compliance with specifications and rules outlined by the National Student Steel Bridge Competition committee. Specifications dictated dimensional limits, construction restraints, and judging criteria. The bridge was judged by a panel of practicing engineers who evaluated performance categories including stiffness, aesthetics, construction, and sustainability. In the design phase, several bridge designs were modeled in RISA-3D structural simulation software to evaluate structural performance under an applied load of 2500 pounds. A selection was made based on deflection and weight performance. Upon selection of the optimal design, shop drawings were rendered in AutoCAD software to determine material quantities. Following fundraising, the team purchased the necessary tools and materials to begin the fabrication process. Students cut, welded and drilled steel parts while incorporating innovative dovetail connections to allow for rapid construction with minimal deflections. These design features allowed the students to construct the bridge in approximately 27 minutes. Loading the bridge with 2500 pounds yielded 1.1 inches of vertical deflection, and a 50-pound lateral pull produced less than 0.5 inches of deflection. The strong structural performance was echoed by a fierce aesthetic presence, consisting of an orange truss, marked with black stripes mimicking that of a tiger’s back.

Location

Grave Covell

Start Date

21-4-2012 10:00 AM

End Date

21-4-2012 12:00 PM

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Apr 21st, 10:00 AM Apr 21st, 12:00 PM

Design and Production of a Steel Bridge Utilizing Innovative Connections and Fabrication Techniques

Grave Covell

The Pacific Steel Bridge Team was tasked to design, fabricate, and construct a 23 ft model steel bridge to compete in the 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers Mid-Pacific Conference. A team of students ranging from freshmen to seniors used their skills, ingenuity and knowledge developed from fundamental engineering courses to produce a design in compliance with specifications and rules outlined by the National Student Steel Bridge Competition committee. Specifications dictated dimensional limits, construction restraints, and judging criteria. The bridge was judged by a panel of practicing engineers who evaluated performance categories including stiffness, aesthetics, construction, and sustainability. In the design phase, several bridge designs were modeled in RISA-3D structural simulation software to evaluate structural performance under an applied load of 2500 pounds. A selection was made based on deflection and weight performance. Upon selection of the optimal design, shop drawings were rendered in AutoCAD software to determine material quantities. Following fundraising, the team purchased the necessary tools and materials to begin the fabrication process. Students cut, welded and drilled steel parts while incorporating innovative dovetail connections to allow for rapid construction with minimal deflections. These design features allowed the students to construct the bridge in approximately 27 minutes. Loading the bridge with 2500 pounds yielded 1.1 inches of vertical deflection, and a 50-pound lateral pull produced less than 0.5 inches of deflection. The strong structural performance was echoed by a fierce aesthetic presence, consisting of an orange truss, marked with black stripes mimicking that of a tiger’s back.