Steel Bridge

History of Steel Bridge

The steel bridge competition, in its embryonic form, began as a miniature bridge design competition using balsa wood to see which competitor's bridge is the best. Robert E. Shaw Jr., Associate Director of Education for the American Institute of Steel Construction, initiated the steel bridge competition in the spring of 1987. The first teams to compete were Lawrence Technological University(who hosted the competition), Wayne State University, and Michigan Technological University. In 1992, Fromy Rosenberg, who was the new Director of AISC College Relations, began the first-ever National Student Steel Bridge Competition.

The different categories in the competition that will be judged are:

Display - Includes appearance of bridge, identification of the school on the bridge, and the poster that explains the thought process and includes sponsors, advisors, and technicians. (Display is only used as a tie breaker, however, the lack of information either on the poster or on the bridge itself will results in an added weight penalty to the bridge)

Construction Speed - The team that constructs the bridge with the quickest time (including added time penalties) wins this category

Construction economy - A formula is devised to calculate a dollar amount based on the number of builders, the time of the assembly, and the use of temporary piers. The team with the lowest dollar amount wins this category

Lightness - The team with the lightest bridge (including weight penalties) wins this category.

Stiffness - The team with the lowest aggregate deflection wins this category.

Structural efficiency - A formula is devised to calculate a dollar amount based on the weight and deflection of the bridge. The team with the lowest dollar amount wins this category

The overall winner has the lowest sum from the construction economy and structural efficiency categories.